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FABLES, STORIES 

-AND- 

DESCRIPTIONS. 


Original and Selected, for Language Work, 
Reproduction Exercises and Sup¬ 
plementary Reading. 



By ANNIE A. WRIGHT. 
U 


Chicago : 

A. FLANAGAN, Publisher, 
1889. 







Copyright, 1889. 

-A_ FH.A.lSr^<3-A3Sr. 


! U - if 0 £ 




LIST OF SELECTIONS 


Alexander Selkirk. 88 

Baltimore Oriole. 67 

Barbara Fritchie.. 82 

Beaver, The. 67 

Bread-Fruit. 64 

Cotton. 61 

Cinderella. 9 

Christopher Columbus. 74 

Crab and his Mother, The. 26 

Cat and the Mice, The. 27 

Crow and the Pitcher, The. 29 

Confucius. 5 1 

Cyrus the Great. . .. 5 T 

Croesus. 5 2 

Daniel Webster. 75 

Damon and Pythias. 49 

Day is Done, The. 94 

Dragon’s Teeth, The. 41 

Donkey and his Load, The . 4 1 

Diogenes. 53 

Demosthenes. 56 

Embalming. v . 57 

Elephant, The. 68 

Elk, The. 69 

Ermine, The. 7 ° 

Foolish Mouse, The. 22 

Fox and Grapes. 3 1 

Frogs and their King... 3 2 

Fox and his Tail. 33 

Flax. 63 

Giraffe, The. 7 * 

Gibraltar. 7 1 

Geysers. 7 2 

Golden Eggs, The. 2 7 

Ginger. 65 

Gunpowder. 65 

Greedy Dog, The. 28 

Hedgehog and the Hare, The. 25 

Hare and Tortoise. 3 ° 

Horse and the Lion, The. 38 

Introduction. 5 

** Isle of Long Ago, The. 96 


King Midas. 10 

Landing of the Pilgrims. 76 

Little Cloud, The. 13 

Little Brook, The. 14 

Little Drop of Water, The. 20 

Little Fly, The. 23 

Lazy Boy’s Lesson, A. 18 

Lion and Mouse. 31 

Lark and her Family, The.. .. 36 

Moon and Stars, The. 16 

Milkmaid and her Pail, The. 34 

Miller and his Donkey, The. 34 

Man and his Attributes. 35 

Mariner’s Dream, The. . 84 

North Wind and Sun, The. 39 

Prince Jason and the Golden Fleece. 47 

Paul Revere’s Ride. 90 

Proserpina and King Pluto. 46 

Rice. 63 

Regulus. 55 

Rip Van Winkle. n 

Sir Walter Raleigh. 73 

Sponges. 58 

Sick Lion, The. 3 2 

Sword of Damocles, The.. 4 ° 

Solomon’s Wisdom. 5 ° 

Spider and the Fly, The. 77 

Silk Worm, The. 59 

Silk. 60 

Song of Steam, The. 86 

Socrates. 57 

Slaying the Minotaur. 4 2 

Tortoise and Eagle. 3 1 

Two Mice, The. 37 

Trojan War. .. 39 

Teas. 62 

Ulysses and his Pent-Up Tempests.. 44 


Ulysses and his Magic Flower. 44 

Village Blacksmith, The. 80 


Venus’ Fly Trap. 66 

Wolf and Crane. 3° 

William Tell. 54 



























































































INTRODUCTION. 


In the good old times, not so far away but that they are 
within the recollection of many teachers of to-day, language 
was taught somewhat in this wise. The pupil was well-drilled 
in diagramming and parsing, in rules, special rules and cautions, 
and in all else that pertains to technical grammar. 

If possessed of sufficient intellectual ability, he mastered 
the subject and could diagram and parse anything between the 
covers of the grammar, and, perhaps, his reader, too. So far, 
so good. The only trouble was,—there it all ended. The time 
came when he was expected to use this knowledge in the pro¬ 
duction of correct English. 

He had the knowledge,—an ample amount of it, too,—but 
no one had ever shown him how to bridge the (awful) chasm that 
lay between it and its application. With horror unspeakable he 
heard the announcement from the lips of the teacher, “The 

pupils of the-th grade will write compositions this week. 

Subject, ‘Spring.’ ” There was no escape. He racked his brain 
to the verge of distraction from Monday morning till Friday 
afternoon, and then gave to his teacher the product of the week’s 
work. 

Let us look at it. Where is the result of all his hard study 
of grammar—the science that teaches us to speak and write the 
English language correctly? Does it show itself in smoothly 
flowing periods, elegant diction, and well-chosen figures? Alas 
for the rules, and the diagrams, and the parsing! In the whole 
production there are only a few short, stilted sentences, harsh 
and offensive to the ear, with capital letters misused and punct¬ 
uation marks ignored,—such a composition as might be writ- 



6 


INTRODUCTION. 


ten by one who had never looked into a grammar. Does 
the picture seem familiar to you, my fellow teacher? Can you 
not find in your memory one quite similar to it? 

A few years ago, a revolution against this kind of teaching 
was begun in educational circles; but, like all revolutionists, 
they who had it in hand carried the matter too far. Because 
technical grammar did not do all that was required for the pupil 
in teaching him to “speak and write correctly,” it was con¬ 
demned, and “language work” put in its place. 

The old system supplied the foundation and frame work of 
a goodly structure, but neglected the siding and shingles, lath 
and plaster: a good beginning, but in itself a very unsatisfactory 
habitation. The new (?) system furnishes plenty of lath and 
plaster, siding and shingles, but neither foundation nor frame¬ 
work. Let us combine the two and complete the perfect 
structure. 

When we teach a child arithmetic, we do not give him the 
rules and principles and expect him, by committing them to 
memory, to perfect himself in the art of computation. We give 
him actual practice in the use of figures, day after day, and year 
after year. Let us, in the same way, give the pupil actual prac¬ 
tice in the use of language. 

While we must not neglect to develop the power of think¬ 
ing, and of expressing original thought, the pupil requires a dif¬ 
ferent kind of practice in order to give him any degree of facility 
in the use of language. While his mind is laboring to its utmost 
to find something to say, he cannot give much attention to the 
manner in which he says it; his sentences are liable to be 
abrupt and more or less ungrammatical, and his style entirely 
monotonous. 

Reproduction work, given in all possible variety, is an 
essential aid. If rightly used, it may be made to lead from the 
rules and principles of technical grammar to their application; 
to that which it should ever be the grand aim of the teacher to 
develop—the expression of original thought in beautiful, expres¬ 
sive and correct language. 


INTRODUCTION. 


7 


Reproduction work is not only an invaluable language 
exercise, but it aids in the cultivation of the memory, and of the 
power of attention. 

The selection chosen should be read once or twice, slowly 
and distinctly, by the teacher, with the understanding that the 
pupil is to re-write without asking questions. He should repro¬ 
duce the thought as nearly as possible in his own words, though 
that will naturally follow when sufficient practice has been given. 

The teacher, in giving the work, should be governed by the 
age and ability of the class, and by the amount of time she can. 
spare from her other duties for the correction of the work. For 
the average class the, following method is recommended. At 
the beginning of the recitation time, read the selection, requir¬ 
ing the pupils to listen attentively without taking note with pen. 
or pencil of any point, date or fact in the article. The remain¬ 
ing portion of the recitation hour should be used in re-writing 
upon slate or scratch-book—the latter preferred. The program 
should afford a study hour later in the day, when the selection 
should be copied on paper with pen and ink. Use paper of 
uniform size, and insist upon neatness of work. At the end of 
the study hour collect all the papers and read them, noting the 
most prominent errors. Hand the papers to the class next day, 
giving each pupil his own, and read carefully the list of errors. 
Call for the correction of the mistake, and the reason for it, from 
the class, and request the one who finds a similar error on his 
paper to mark it. Use the study time for re-writing the papers, 
and during the recitation time, on the third day, exchange the 
papers for a free, good-natured class criticism. 

Use this exercise in connection with technical grammar, 
taking one alternately with the other for perhaps three days at a 
time. Refer to the grammar for correction of errors in writing, 
but make no other effort to bring the two in connection. This 
is their natural relation, and by following out this plan one will 
supplement the other just as it is intended to do. 

The manner of writing the reproduction should be varied to 
suit the selection. A biographical or historical sketch—any- 


8 


INTRODUCTION. 


thing in which facts are given—should be reproduced with strict 
regard for truthfulness of statement; fables should be followed 
by an original moral; stories should be so used as to develop 
the imagination; allegories, to draw out the force and beauty of 
figurative illustration; all should tend toward the culture of 
‘Original composition, as well as free, easy, graceful expression. 

Vary the exercise by requiring at one time a condensation 
of the material furnished, by leaving out all not strictly neces¬ 
sary to the outline of the story, and at another an expansion, by 
bringing in a fuller detail of circumstances. 

The transposition of poetry to prose is a most valuable 
exercise. A few familiar poems have been given with the other 
work in this book; others may be added without difficulty by 
the teacher, as they may be needed. Write several stanzas of 
the poem upon the board, or, if convenient, give the pupils the 
books containing it. Perhaps the former is the better method; 
the pupil’s attention is then given entirely to the part of it which 
he is to use at a single lesson. Each lesson should be written 
at least twice; the first time breaking up the measure and rhyme 
and restoring the words to their natural order in the sentence. 
The pupil should then study the thought of the author and 
express it as far as possible in his own words. Give special 
attention to figurative expressions. 

Show use of figures by requiring the expression of the 
thought in both plain and figurative language. Encouraging the 
pupil in the use of figures in his own writing, guarding, of course, 
against their overuse or the use of faulty figures. 

It is impossible that any pupil of average ability can take 
the course recommended without receiving from it great benefit. 
Hand-in-hand with the grammar and the rhetoric, let the pupil 
have this work, and without doubt he will be able in the end to 
“speak and write the English language correctly.” 


CINDERELLA. 


Cinderella was a very pretty young girl, who lived 
with her stepmother and two stepsisters. The mother 
disliked her very much, and the sisters were jealous of 
her. Among them they made life very unpleasant for 
the poor girl. 

She had no nice dresses, but wore old, ragged clothes, 
and worked in the kitchen, while her sisters sat in the 
parlor. 

When the prince came home he made a grand party, 
to which the stepsisters were invited. Cinderella helped 
them dress, and prepare to go to the party, and, in re¬ 
turn for her kindness, they taunted her because she had 
no fine clothes, and could not go. After they had gone, 
she went back to the kitchen fire, grieving very much 
over her sad lot. 

Suddenly her fairy god-mother stood before her, and, 
by the use of her magic wand, made her ready, in a 
beautiful dress, for the party, and by changing a pumpkin 
into a coach, rats into horses, and mice into footmen, 
provided her with equipage and attendants. She then 
left her, charging her to be sure to leave the palace before 
the clock struck twelve, for then all her finery would turn 
to rags. 

Everybody wondered who the beautiful stranger could 
be, and the prince was captivated by her appearance. 
She was talking with him when the clock began to strike 
twelve, and, remembering the fairy’s warning, she turned 


10 


STORIES AND FABLES 


in haste and ran from the room. In her hurry she lost 
one of her slippers, and when the servants were sent to 
find out what had become of the beautiful stranger, they 
found the dainty little shoe, and carried it to their master. 

Next day the prince thought he would find the owner 
by taking it to one and another of the ladies who had 
been at the ball, until he found one who could wear it. 
“For surely,” he said, “there are not, in all my kingdom, 
two such pretty pairs of feet. ” When he came to the 
home of Cinderella, her sisters tried in vain to put on the 
slipper. Cinderella, happening to come into the room, 
exclaimed: “Why, there is my shoe!” and sat down and 
put it on. She soon after married the prince, and went 
to live in the palace. She returned good for evil by al¬ 
ways being very kind to her sisters. 


KING MIDAS. 

King Midas loved money better than he did anything 
else in the world, except his little daughter Marigold. 
One day, as he was counting over his gold, a stranger 
appeared before him, and offered to grant him any wish 
he would make. So Midas wished that everything he 
touched might turn to gold. 

The stranger told him that his desire was granted; 
that when he should awake in the following morning, he 
would find himself in possession of the “golden touch.“ 

He was greatly pleased, and amused himself for some 
time next morning by touching various articles about the 
room, and watching them turn to gold. But when he 
went to breakfast it was not so pleasant: the fish, the 
eggs, the bread and butter—everything turned to gold, 



FOR REPRODUCTION. 


II 


and he at last left the table as hungry as when he went 
to it. He began to doubt if the “golden touch” was so 
very desirable after all. 

But the worst was yet to come. His little daughter 
came running to him, and forgetting his fatal power, he 
laid his hand upon her head, and to his horror she turned 
to gold in an instant. In his grief he begged that the 
fatal charm might be removed. The stranger again stood 
before him, and bade him go and bathe in the river, after 
which he would be able to restore to their natural con¬ 
dition the things he had changed to gold. He carefully 
obeyed the directions, and his first exercise of his changed 
power was in restoring to life his daughter. 

With the golden touch he lost his love for gold, and 
distributed much of his hoarded treasure in charity. 


RIP VAN WINKLE. 

In a small cottage at the foot of one of the Catskill 
mountains lived Rip Van Winkle, a descendant of one of 
the old Dutch families of that region. He was a good- 
natured fellow, a favorite with every one in the village, 
especially the children and dogs, but he had a great dis¬ 
like for every kind of profitable labor. Not for lack of 
patience and perseverance, for he would sit for hours 
upon a wet rock, fishing with a long heavy pole, without 
even the encouragement of a nibble, or trudge all day 
long over the mountains, with his gun upon his shoulder, 
for the sake of shooting a few pigeons or squirrels. 

In consequence of his idleness and want of thrift, his 
estate, once a comfortable patrimony, dwindled year by 
year, and furnished a never-failing theme for the tongue 



12 


STORIES AND FABLES 


of his scolding wife. His children were wild and ragged, 
and his dog, Wolf, was the only friend he had in his own 
home. Wolf was his companion, not only in the long 
tramps over the hills, but in the misery at home, for the 
good dame pronounced them alike in uselessness and 
shiftlessness. 

One day Rip wandered far up the mountain side in 
search of game, and being tired, threw himself down to 
rest upon a green knoll overlooking the Hudson. After 
a time he heard someone call, “Rip Van Winkle!” He 
started up and looked about him. He could see nothing, 
but presently heard again the cry, “Rip Van Winkle! 
Rip Van Winkle!” Then he saw, coming toward him, 
a very short, stout man, carrying on his shoulders a keg 
of liquor. The stranger called to him to help him to carry 
his burden. He hesitated at first, but finally, prompted 
by his good nature, he complied, and went to the man’s 
assistance. Together they carried the keg up a ravine 
until they came to a sort of amphitheater formed by the 
rocks. Here they found a number of very strangely 
dressed people playing ten-pins. As they rolled the balls 
a noise resembling thunder echoed from the surrounding 
hills. 

Rip was very much frightened, but after a while sum¬ 
moned courage to taste of the liquor in the keg he had 
helped to carry. It was so good that he kept on tasting 
until his senses left him, and he fell upon the ground 
asleep. 

When he awoke he looked around him in astonish¬ 
ment; he was lying upon the same green knoll that had 
been his resting place before his strange adventure. 
“Can I have fallen asleep, and staid out all night? What 
will my wife say?” he asked himself anxiously. He got 


FOR REPRODUCTION. 


13 


upon his feet after considerable effort, for his joints were 
stiff, and found, instead of his own bright, well-oiled gun, 
one that had rusty locks and worm eaten barrel. 

His dog, too, had disappeared, and after a weary 
search for them, he turned his steps homeward. His 
native village was so changed that he scarcely recognized 
it; new rows of houses appeared where there were none 
before, and old ones had disappeared. The children ran 
after him, hooting and laughing at his strange appear¬ 
ance, and the dogs barked at him. Not a single one of 
either did he know. 

He made his way to the old home, and found it 
desolate. Only the most persistent inquiries procured 
any information of the state of affairs, for everyone 
thought him crazy. 

At last he found his daughter, and with her help and 
that of an old friend or two who still survived, he realized 
that his nap on the mountain had lasted twenty years; 
that the Revolutionary War had come and gone, and that 
he was now a citizen of the United States instead of a 
subject of King George; that his wife was dead, and that 
all the changes that might be expected in twenty years 
time had taken place in the village. 


THE LITTLE CLOUD. 

A little white cloud said to itself, as it floated lazily 
along the blue sky, “I can’t see any use of my living, I 
am so little and insignificant. I wish I were a bird— 
I would sing a sweet song, and make somebody happy 
with my music. I wish I were a flower—I would delight 
someone with my beauty. I wish I could be anything 
that was useful.” 



i4 


STORIES AND FABLES 


It was a warm sunny day; no rain had fallen for a 
longtime; the flowers were drooping, the grass brown 
and dead, and the little brook was sad and quiet for want 
of water. 

A great many other little clouds floated along after a 
while, and finally, in the afternoon, they all joined 
together and made one great, big cloud; the thunder 
began to roll through it, and the rain fell in a grand 
shower on the thirsty earth. The flowers raised their 
drooping heads, the grass grew fresh and green, and the 
little brook sang and laughed with new life. 

As the little cloud saw the result of the shower, it said, 
“I was all wrong: nothing is too small to be of use in 
the world.” 


THE LITTLE BROOK. 

A little dancing brook that ought to have been as 
happy as the day was long, was very discontented and 
unhappy. As it wound its way in and out among the 
pebbles, it murmured thus, “How tired I am! I just 
have to keep up this perpetual running and dashing from 
stone to stone, and from one side to the other, day after 
day, and night after night, and all for no purpose, as I 
can see. If I were only a great river, and could go gli¬ 
ding along so easily and quietly, how happy I should be!” 

Other little babbling, chattering brooks joined our 
murmuring friend, until she began to put on the airs of a 
fullgrown river, and almost forgot to fret abont the hard¬ 
ness of her lot. 

“Well,” she said to herself, “this is beginning to be 
something like life. Before long I shall be a graceful, 



FOR REPRODUCTION. 


X S 


beautiful river, instead of that noisy, rushing, tiresome 
thing I used to be.” Alas! she had scarcely settled her¬ 
self down to prepare for the good times coming when 
she saw, stretched across her course from bank to bank, 
a horrid wall of logs and stone and mortar. 

No way to get around it—the pent-up waters were 
carried here and there, through long sluices, to fall upon 
great wheels, and having spent their force in setting in 
motion all the machinery in immense buildings, gathered 
themselves together again, and poured over the dam in a 
noisy waterfall. 

Poor little river! Too agitated and angry to speak, 
she went on her sorrowful journey. Other and larger 
streams soon joined her, and by the time she had fully 
recovered from her great surprise, she found herself com¬ 
pelled to bear upon her waters the burdens of many 
boats, from the great steamer, that churned, with its 
wheels, the placid water into foam, to the fairy skiff that 
seemed scarcely to touch the waters. 

Again she complained, “Oh! why was I not happy 
when I was so free from care; when I had nothing to do 
but dance and and sing all the livelong day. Then I 
sighed to be a great river; now, if I could only be a little 
brook again, how happy I should be.” 

But a better feeling after a while came over her, and 
she began to be more contented. She was now a mighty 
river, and carried on her broad bosom the wealth of a 
nation. As she looked over the fair meadows, stretching 
away in the distance on one side, and on the bright fields 
of grain, waving in the sunlight on the other, she again 
said to herself, “I now see that it is all right! The little 
brook should be glad and bright, free from care, and 
singing all the day long; as it grows in strength it should 


i6 


STORIES AND FABLES 


grow in usefulness; so it must turn the wheels and spindles 
of the factory. When it becomes a great river, instead 
of gliding selfishly alone on its course to the sea, it must 
bear upon its tide the commerce of the country. I have 
learned to be content.” 


THE MOON AND STARS. 

When the sun had gone down after his first day’s 
journey through the heavens, the little glimmering stars 
came peeping out one by one, shining with joy at finding 
themselves surrounded by so many twinkling points of 
light, and each wondering if she herself was as beautiful 
as her neighbors. 

Their attention was finally attracted by a slender 
crescent of light, hanging just above the horizon in the 
west. All in an instant were wondering what it could 
be. One very bright star had just been looking at her 
reflection in the water, and had thus learned that she was 
the most beautiful object in the heavens. 

Like most beautiful persons, she considered herself at 
liberty to put on airs; so she began to talk to her 
nearest neighbor about the folly and impudence shown by 
such an insignificant object presuming to intrude herself 
among her betters. All the others followed in her lead, 
and soon from all parts of the heavens could be heard 
the indignant echoes. 

The poor little new moon heard in painful silence, 
and, after seeming to pause a moment, as if to ask for 
pity and sympathy, she hid herself behind the horizon. 
The triumphant stars, thinking they had banished the 
unsightly object, spent the night in congratulations, and 
in admiring each other’s—and their own—beauty. 



FOR REPRODUCTION. 


17 


The rising sun dimmed their glory and hid them from 
sight till he had finished his course and disappeared. 

Again came the stars, bright and sparkling as before, 
and pleasant greetings were interchanged before they 
noticed that the slender crescent they thought was gone 
forever again hung over the western horizon. Speechless, 
with indignation, all stopped to gaze upon her. Yes, 
there she was, and—surely there could be no doubt— 
she was a little higher up in the heavens, a little larger, 
and a little brighter than on the preceding night. 

Again she seemed to retreat and hide from their 
scorn, and again they sang their triumphant songs. 

But the next night she was there again, and, as sev¬ 
eral nights went by, a feeling of uneasiness began to 
prevail among the stars. It could not be denied that 
their neighbor, formerly so humble and insignificant, was 
each night taking a higher position in the heavens, and, 
at the same time, growing brighter and more beautiful. 
She was also losing her timidity and modesty, and 
becoming proud and vain. 

As she looked in the water, night after night, at the 
reflection of herself, she noticed with great joy that she 
was losing her awkward crescent form and growing round 
and full, and then, that she was becoming so bright that 
her scornful rivals were almost lost in her greater glory. 

She began to be very ambitious, and when she rose 
one evening, just as the sun was going down, she said to 
herself, after looking at the reflection of her perfect form 
in the ocean, “I am now brighter than all the stars put 
together; I shall probably keep on growing till I cover 
the whole sky, and even the sun himself cannot shine.” 
The next night, though she was very anxious to see how 
much she had grown, she was a little late, coming up 


STORIES AND FABLES 


l8 

above the eastern horizon some minutes after the sun had 
gone down, and, try hard as she might, she could not see 
that she was a bit larger than before; indeed—though 
surely she must be mistaken—it seemed as if one side 
was not quite as perfect as it had been the night before. 

The stars had long ago given up the field to their 
rival, and only a few were able to show themselves at 
all. The following night the moon, though she hurried 
all she could, was still later in rising; there was no mis¬ 
take—she was losing her beautiful shape, and not gaining 
either in size or brilliancy. The keen-eyed stars soon 
noticed her misfortune, but trouble had made them kind, 
so they tried to comfort her in her grief. 

Just as she had gained in beauty before, she now 
lost, until there was left only the slender crescent the 
stars had thought so unsightly. 

At last there came a night in which there was no 
moon. The stars were sad, as if they had lost a friend, 
and spent the night in utter silence. Great was the joy 
throughout the heavens when, on the following night, 
there was seen a new moon—their old friend came back 
again. They welcomed her with shouts of joy, and since 
then there has been harmony in the celestial spheres. 


A LAZY BOY’S LESSON. 

Harry was a little boy, who, if not lazy, certainly did 
not at all love to work. One day his mother gave him 
a basket of peas to shell for dinner. He growled and 
grumbled as much as he dared to about it, but finally 
took the basket, seated himself upon a grassy bank in 
the cool, shady orchard, and began his task. 



FOR REPRODUCTION. 


19 


He thought there was no reason why he should hurry 
himself very much, so he proceeded very leisurely, all 
the while thinking how hard it was that he was obliged 
to work at all. “I wish I were a bird, or a bee—any¬ 
thing else than the poor slave that I am.” 

As he finished his sentence, he looked up, and there 
stood before him a tiny old woman, with the funniest 
dress and cap that Harry had ever seen. “Come with 
me, my boy,” she said, in a very sprightly tone for one 
as old as she, “I want to show you something.’ 

Harry did not want to go, but he could not resist; so 
off he went, obliged to walk at his best pace to keep up 
with his brisk little guide. They stopped at last where 
some birds were busy building a nest. Very strangely, 
Harry found himself able to talk with and understand 
them. “Come pretty bird,” said he, “I want to hear you 
sing. Tell me what your nest is made of, and how many 
eggs are in it.” “I cannot stop to visit with you,” 
said the bird, “I am far too busy.” “What! You do not 
have to work, do you? I thought you had nothing to 
do all day long but sing and play.” “O,” said the birdie, 
“We have the nest to build, then the eggs to take care 
of, and after awhile the little ones will have to be fed and 
cared for. We are always very, very busy. ” 

“Come on,” said the little old woman, and away they 
went, stopping again beside an ant-hill, where thousands 
of tiny ants were rushing around in what seemed to 
Harry a very distracted way. “See here, little ant, stop 
a minute, and tell me what you are doing, and what you 
have inside your funny house.” 

“Oh! I can not stop to talk. We have so much to 
do to prepare for the long, cold winter, and .we are all 
working as hard as we can.” 


20 


STORIES AND FABLES 


“Come on,” said his brisk little guide, and they soon 
found themselves looking at the bees going in and coming 
out of their hive. “I want to see you a minute, little 
bee,” said Harry, “I want to ask you how you make the 
pretty comb, and the honey, and all—” “I am sorry,” 
interrupted the bee, very politely, “but I really can not 
take the time to answer your questions. You see, we 
have so much honey to make, and flowers are so scarce— 
so good day,—” and the bee was out of sight before she 
had finished her sentence. 

Harry began to have an idea that he, too, ought to 
have something to do, if he meant to live in this busy 
world; but just then somebody shook him and he awoke 
from his strange dream to find it dinner time, and no 
peas shelled. But he had learned a lesson, and hereafter 
it did not seem so hard to be obliged to work, for he 
knew he had plenty of company. 


THE LITTLE DROP OF WATER. 

A happy little drop of water had its home for a long 
time in a pretty lake. With its companions, it led a 
merry life, dancing and laughing in the sunshine, now on 
the crest of one white-capped wave and now on another, 
and when the storm-clouds gathered and the winds lashed 
the waters into foam, its glee knew no bounds. 

One day there passed over the bosom of the lake a 
warm south wind. The little drop rose on the crest of a 
wave to meet it, when the wind suddenly caught it up 
and carried it into the air. It was, at first, too frightened 
and dizzy to think, but it soon recovered from the effects 



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of its sudden elevation, and, growing accustomed to sail¬ 
ing along at a great height, regained its spirits and was 
as happy as before. 

“How nice this is!” it exclaimed gaily. “It is such 
a change, and so much nicer than living in the lake. 
And how I have grown! It seems to me that I am a 
hundred times as big as I used to be, and yet I am so 
light that I could not fall to the ground if I tried.” 
After awhile, our airy traveler met a cool breeze from 
the north. It began to shiver and grow smaller, until it 
was no larger than it had been in the lake, and soon, to 
its astonishment, it felt itself falling, falling through the 
air until it reached the ground. 

It fell, with a whole host of companions, right into a 
muddy puddle, and our poor little friend, that had 
never seen any dirt since it could remember, was all 
soiled in an instant. But it hadn’t time to complain, for 
just at that minute the puddle overflowed, and it was car¬ 
ried by a tiny stream to meet the larger one just beyond 
the hill. This in turn carried it to one still larger, until 
in time the little drop found itself part of a great river. 
This was better—it was not clean yet, but it was nicer 
than the puddle, and it went back to its singing and danc¬ 
ing almost as gayly as before. 

For many days it went on and on with the current, 
until one morning the beams of the rising sun found it 
enjoying an unusual, but, someway, very familiar feeling 
of restfulness. It looked around to find the reason, and, 
behold! it was back in its own old home—the lake. 
Very happy was the little drop, and it said to itself gently, 
“I am going down to the bottom of the lake to take a 
long, long rest, for I am so tired.” 


22 


STORIES AND FABLES 


THE FOOLISH MOUSE 


“Mother,” said one of a very happy family of little 
mice, “I am tired of living in this nest. Why can’t I go 
out into the world and see some of the wonder 



you tell about?” “My dear,” said the mothb^4££mi are r 
not yet able to take care of yourself. You must learn 
something of the ways of this wicked world before you 
can go out into it, without danger of losing your life.” 

But the little mouse was not satisfied. “I cannot see 
what there is to be afraid of,’’ he went on. “I am sure 
if danger came that I could get out of the way as well as 
you, or better, for I am younger and more active than 
you. Besides,” he continued, artfully, “it does not look 
well for a great big mouse like me to depend upon his 
mother for a living. Let my brothers and sisters do it if 
they wish, but I shall look out for myself in the future.” 
“You must not think of such a thing!” exclaimed the 
mother anxiously. “I have not the time to do it now, 
for I must see about getting some supper, but to-morrow 
I will tell you about these dangers and how to avoid 
them. But to-night, do you stay safely at home. I will 
try to bring you a nice piece of cheese for supper.” 

But the willful little mouse had resolved to take the 
matter into his own hands; he was going to be dependent 
upon his mother no longer. So, as soon as she was out 
of sight, he followed, and easily found the way through 
a tiny hole in a dark corner into the pantry. Here he 
looked around in astonishment. “See that monstrous 
cheese!” he said to himself. “Mother never brought us 
more than tiny bits at a time. I never knew she was so 
selfish. And see the pie and cake, the bread and butter, 
and more nice things than I ever heard of before. Won’t 


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I live like a prince, though! Well, well! here is a little 
house, with bits of cheese in it, all prepared for supper. 
Who says people are not kind to little mice? I’ll go in 
and rest awhile and eat my supper.’’ But, alas! as he 
went in, the door clicked, shut behind him, and he could 
not get it open. He forgot about being tired and 
hungry, and cried with all his might for his mother to 
come and help him out. 

“There’s a mouse in the trap. Call the cat,” exclaimed 
some one, and as the poor mousie felt the sharp claws 
and sharper teeth of the old cat settle themselves into his 
poor little body, he cried with his last breath, “Oh, that I 
had obeyed my mother!” 


THE LITTLE FLY. 

A little fly made its first appearance in this world 
early one summer morning. Flies do not have to be at 
first little flies, then bigger flies, and at last great big 
flies—do not have to go through the tedious process of 
growing up , as boys and girls do, but are full-grown when 
they come out of their previous state of existence. 

Let us listen to him as he looks about him for the 
first time. 

“Well, this is a bright, beautiful world, sure enough! 
What nice times I shall have—nothing to do all day long 
but play and eat. Surely, I shall be able to find plenty 
of food. By the way, I am hungry now. Seems to me, 
I smell something good off in this direction. At least. 
I’ll go to see,” and away he went towards the breakfast 
table. “Yes, here is some sugar—I’ll begin with that. 



24 


STORIES AND FABLES 


But what makes them “shoo” me away before I have had 
half a mouthful? I’d not be so stingy with a great bowl 
of sugar, for the world. I’m thirsty now, and here’s a 
pitcher of cream. I’ll take a drink. Oh!”—he had lost 
his footing and fallen into the cream, and had to be fished 
out on the end of a spoon. “What an adventure that 
was! I thought I should certainly drown. What a quan¬ 
tity of cream does stick to my feet; I shall have to stop 
and clean them off, and at this rate I shall never get my 
breakfast. What a nice-looking old gentleman that is. 
I’ll tickle his nose, just to show him I like him. Well! 
who would have thought it would make him so angry? 
If I had not hurried away I really believe he would have 
killed me. There is a gentleman with a bald head. 
What a lovely place to play! I’ll go and run around over 
it awhile, and finish my breakfast afterwards. Dear, dear! 
How can such great big people be so much afraid of a 
poor little fly! He has actually put his handkerchief over 
his head, so that I cannot go back. It is too bad; it was 
such fun! 

“There’s a boy! He will like me, and play with me, 
and give me something to eat, for he is not cross like 
those great men.” 

But the poor fly was cruelly disappointed; the boy 
caught him, pulled off his legs and wings, and tortured 
him to death. As he was about to die, the fly said, “I 
thought this world was so nice, and that I should have 
such a happy life, but I have had nothing but trouble. 
Though it seems so large, there is not room in it for one 
poor little fly to live its short life, without being perse¬ 
cuted and tortured to death.” 


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THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG. 

A hedgehog going out before breakfast one bright 
sunny morning to look after his turnip patch, met his 
neighbor, the hare, who had come out to see to his cab¬ 
bages. 

After some general conversation, the hare, who did 
not love his neighbor as he should have done, became 
quite personal in his remarks, and spoke in a very slight¬ 
ing manner of the hedgehog’s short legs, ungraceful ap¬ 
pearance, and awkward movements. Now the hedgehog 
was exceedingly proud of his form, and becoming angry 
at this unprovoked attack, he resolved to punish the hare 
severely. Accordingly, he challenged him to run a race 
with him; the hare accepted, and time and place were 
soon appointed—the former, an hour after breaKfast, and 
the latter, the furrows of an adjoining field. These pre¬ 
liminaries being arranged, the hedgehog went home, and 
told his wife what he had done. She, in astonishment, 
began to reproach him for his folly, when he silenced her 
by reminding her that a man’s business should be attended 
to by a man, not by a woman. 

He then proceeded to give her certain instructions as 
to how she was to aid him in winning the race. All she 
had to do was to go to the other end of the field, lie down 
in the furrow, and when she saw the hare coming, to rise 
and say, “Here I am, waiting for you.’’ 

All was ready when the hare made his appearance; 
the contestants placed themselves in their respective fur¬ 
rows, and the signal was given for starting. Away went 
the hare, like a flash of lightning, while the hedgehog 
contented himself with taking a few steps, then laid him¬ 
self down in the furrow to await the return of the hare. 


26 


STORIES AND FABLES 


As the hare reached the end of the furrow, the hedge¬ 
hog’s wife, who very closely resembles her husband, rose 
and said, “Here I am, waiting for you.” The hare was 
breathless with astonishment, and after recovering suffi¬ 
ciently to speak, said, “There must be some mistake! 
Let us try it again” “Agreed,” said Mrs. Hedgehog, and 
away went the hare at the top of his speed. When he 
arrived at the end, the hedgehog quietly rose from the 
furrow, and said, “Here I am, waiting for you.” This 
was too much! The poor hare lost all presence of mind, 
and demanded trial after trial, only to find himself de¬ 
feated each time, until at last, completely exhausted, he 
stretched himself in the furrow to die, leaving the hedge¬ 
hog not only victorious in the contest but exultant over 
the death of his life-long enemy. 


THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER. 

A crab one day said to her son, “My dear, why do 
you not learn to walk more gracefully? Your appearance 
is very awkward indeed.” “I shall be glad to learn how, 
mamma, for I am sure I do not wish to be awkward,” 
said the son. “Will you please show me how to walk, 
that I may imitate you, and become graceful?” The 
lady crab accordingly put on an air of great dignity, 
and commenced her instruction. She started to walk, 
but was immediately reminded by her son that she was 
veering to the right, again she tried, but this time turned 
toward the left. After several ineffectual efforts to keep 
in a straight line, she was obliged to admit that her son’s 
awkwardness was gained by direct inheritance, and that 
her attempt to teach others to do what she could not do 
herself was an entire failure. 



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THE GOLDEN EGGS. 

A woman once had a hen that laid for her each day 
a golden egg. The woman was at first delighted with 
her good fortune, but after a while became dissatisfied 
because she could not have them all at once, instead of 
waiting for one to be given her each day She thought 
the hen must have concealed within her body a mass of 
gold from which the eggs were produced. Accordingly, 
she had her killed, that she might obtain it all at one 
time, but she found her in no way different from other 
hens. Thus she lost not only the imaginary mass of gold, 
but the daily golden egg which had never failed to be 
laid for her. 


THE CAT AND THE MICE. 

The mice in an old country mansion had long held 
undisputed sway over the treasures in pantry, cellar and 
store-room. The sweetest cream, the choicest bits of 
cheese, and other like dainties, seemed to them to have 
been prepared, and left in convenient places, especially 
for their use. No danger attended their most daring 
depredations; the slow steps af the cook gave warning of 
her appearance in time for them to whisk around a corner 
and out of sight before she caught a glimpse of as much 
as the ends of their tails. 

But her wrath was roused to an unwonted degree, 
one day, by the disappearance of an unusually nice lunch 
she had put away expressly for her own table. She went 
to the master, and informed him that she could endure it 
no longer: either the mice or she must leave the premises. 



28 


STORIES AND FABLES 


Her master, alarmed at the thought of losing his 
faithful cook, procured at once a cat that was warranted 
to be an excellent mouser. Great consternation was im¬ 
mediately created among the mice. One of their number 
fell the first day, a victim to the sharp teeth and claws of 
the enemy. The soft steps of the cat gave no warning 
of her approach, and not a single meal could they enjoy 
without fear of her suddenly pouncing upon them. 

A council was called to determine upon some measure 
of safety. Many plans were proposed and rejected. At 
last, one seemed to meet with general approval. It was 
this: a small bell was to be purchased, and tied upon the 
neck of the cat. This would tell them of her coming in 
time for them to be up and out of the way before she 
could possibly harm them. Greatly rejoiced to have 
found so easy and safe a remedy for their serious trouble, 
they proceeded to the details of the plan. The price to 
be paid for the bell was decided upon, and a committee 
appointed to purchase it; all went smoothly until some¬ 
one asked who was to fasten the bell upon the cat. Sud¬ 
den silence fell upon the council. Those who had been 
loudest in proposing and urging plans stole silently away, 
lest they might be called upon to perform the dangerous 
task; and the council, deprived of its leaders, resolved 
itself into solitary members, fleeing sadly and silently 
before a just retribution. “Those who are loudest in 
council are often the first to flee from danger.” 


THE GREEDY DOG. 

A hungry dog had had the good fortune to find a 
bone with a fair portion of meat upon it, and was hasten- 



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ing home that he might enjoy in peace and quiet his long 
deferred meal. 

As he crossed the bridge over the brook, he saw his 
own reflection in the water below. He supposed it to be 
another dog that had been equally fortunate in securing 
his dinner, and stopping, he said to himself, “If I had 
that bone as well as my own, I should be sure of at least 
three good meals. The other dog does not see me; if I 
jump upon him suddenly, he will drop the bone, and I 
can make off with both.” His plan seemed so sure of 
success that he immediately proceeded to put it in 
execution. 

But alas! as he sprang into the water and opened his 
mouth to seize the imaginary bone, his own was carried 
away by the swift current, and after a vain search he was 
obliged to swim ashore without either, a hungrier and 
sadder, if not a wiser dog than before he risked the sub¬ 
stance for the shadow. 


THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. 

A crow that had been looking for some hours for 
water, with which to quench its thirst, found at last a 
pitcher that had a little in it, but it was so far from the 
top that, try as it might, it could not reach it. It 
stretched its neck to its utmost extent, but not one drop 
could it get. 

Too thirsty to give up easily, it set its wits to work to 
devise some means to get at the water. Seeing at length 
some small stones lying near by, it took them, one by 
one, on its back, dropped them into the pitcher, and thus 
brought the water within its reach. Necessity is the 
mother of invention. ” 



3° 


STORIES AND FABLES 


THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. 

A hare was once ridiculing a tortoise in a very un¬ 
friendly manner, on account of his ungraceful person, and 
slow, awkward movements. The tortoise bore it uncom¬ 
plainingly for a time, but, roused at last to indignation, 
he challenged the hare to run a race with him. The hare 
laughed still more loudly, but for the sake of the heavy 
wager, accepted the challenge. 

The day appointed for the race was very warm and 
sultry, and the hare, sure of winning, stretched himself 
out for a nap, thinking he could start almost at the last 
minute and yet reach the goal first. 

The tortoise plodded along, surely and steadily though 
slowly, and reached the end, winning the race, while the 
hare was yet sleeping. 


THE WOLF AND THE CRANE. 

A wolf, while eating his dinner, attempted to swallow 
a bone that proved too large for his throat, and stuck fast 
in it. He called to a neighboring crane to come and 
extract it for him, promising her a large reward if she 
succeeded in getting it out. The crane, by reason of her 
long neck, found no difficulty in taking out the bone, but 
when she claimed the promised reward, the wolf laughed 
at her. “Why,” said he, showing his teeth, “is it not re¬ 
ward enough that you have been permitted to draw your 
head safely from between the jaws of the wolf?” 



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THE FOX AND THE GRAPES. 

A fox, seeing a beautiful bunch of grapes hanging on 
a vine a little above his reach, tried, by jumping with all 
his strength, to get it. After making many vain attempts, 
he gave it up, exclaiming, “What do I care for them! 
The grapes are sour, and I would not have them if they 
were within my reach.” We affect to despise many things 
simply because we are not able to obtain them. 


THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE. 

A tortoise, admiring the ease with which the eagle 
soared through the air, earnestly begged that he would 
teach her to fly. 

The eagle told her that it was impossible, that she 
asked a thing contrary to her nature, but she was not to 
be convinced or persuaded from her purpose. 

Wearied at last by her importunity, the eagle seized 
her in his talons, carried her high in the air, and released 
her that she might try her skill in flying to the ground. 
As she might have known would be the case, she fell 
upon the stones and was dashed in pieces. 


THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 

As a lion was sleeping, one day, a mouse ran over his 
face and awakened him. Very angry at having his slum¬ 
bers disturbed, the lion caught the mouse and was about 
to kill him, when he began to beg piteously for his life, 
promising that, if spared, he would be sure to repay the 




32 


STORIES AND FABLES 


kindness. The lion laughed at him, but released him 
uninjured. 

Sometime afterwards the lion was caught by the hun¬ 
ters, and bound with strong ropes that he might not 
escape. He roared for help; the little mouse, hearing 
him, came to his assistance and set him free by gnawing 
in pieces the ropes that bound him. 

He then said to the lion, “You once laughed at the 
idea of my being able to help you, but now you know it 
is possible for a mouse to confer a benefit upon a lion.” 


THE SICK LION. 

A lion being unable, because of old age, to obtain 
food by force, resolved to obtain it by stratagem. 

He went to his den, and, lying down, pretended to be 
sick The other beasts, hearing of his sickness, came to 
see him, one by one, and the lion devoured them. After 
many of them had disappeared, in this way, the fox came, 
and standing on the outside of the den, at a respectful 
distance, asked him how he did. “Not very well,” said 
the lion, “but why do you stand outside? Come in and 
talk with me.” “No, thank you,” replied the fox, “I see 
many footprints entering your den, but none coming out.” 

He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of 
others. 


THE FROGS AND THEIR KING. 

The frogs were much grieved because they had no 
ruler, and besought Jupiter to send them a king. He 
was much surprised at their simplicity, and cast down a 




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huge log into the lake. They were at first much terrified 
and hid themselves in the bottom of the pool; but, after 
finding that it continued motionless, they came nearer to 
it, dismissed their fears, and, finally, despised it so much 
that they climbed up and sat upon it. 

They then sent a second deputation, asking him to 
send them a king that would not be so idle and lifeless. 
He sent them an eel, but he was far too good natured 
for them, and they sent a third time. 

Jupiter, displeased at their complaints, sent a heron, 
which preyed upon the frogs day after day until there 
were none left in the pool. 


FOX AND HIS TAIL. 

A fox once had the misfortune to lose his tail in a 
trap. His life became a burden to him because of the 
ridicule to which he was exposed, and he resolved to 
have some one else share in his misery. 

He thought that if he could only bring the other 
foxes into a condition like his own, he would cease to be 
so conspicuous because of his misfortune. Accordingly, 
he called together all the foxes of his acquaintance and 
addressed them thus: “You do not know how great a 
convenience it is to have no tail; you are much better 
looking, and at the same time do not have to carry about 
such a useless weight. If I were you, I should have them 
cut off instantly. ” 

One of the listening foxes interrupted him, saying, 
“If you had not lost your own tail, my friend, you would 
not thus counsel us.” 



34 


STORIES AND FABLES 


THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL. 

A milk-maid was carrying her pail full of milk from 
the field to the house, talking to herself as she went. 
“The money for which this milk will be sold will buy 
at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all 
mishaps, will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. 
The chickens will be ready for the market at the time 
when poultry will bring the highest price, so that, by the 
end of the year, I shall have money enough from my 
share of the proceeds to buy a new gown. Let me see; 
what shall the color be? Green? Yes, green suits my 
complexion best, and green it shall be. In it I shall go 
to the Christmas dance, and all the young men will want 
me for a partner. But I shall toss my head and refuse 
every one of them.’’ At this moment she tossed her 
head as she intended doing in refusing the young men, 
when, alas! down came the pail, and, with it, all her fine 
plans. 


THE MILLER AND HIS DONKEY. 

A miller and his son were driving their donkey to a 
neighboring town to sell him. Soon after they started 
they met with a troop of women collected round a well, 
laughing and talking. “Look there,” cried one of them, 
“did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along on 
foot when they might as well ride?” 

The old man hearing this, quickly put his son on the 
donkey, and continued himself to walk along contentedly 
by his side. Presently they met a group of old men who 
seemed to be debating very earnestly. “There,” said one 
of them, “it proves what I was saying: What respect is 



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35 


shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle 
lad riding, while his poor old father has to walk? Get 
down, you young scape-grace, and let the old man rest 
his weary limbs.” Upon this the old man made his son 
dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had 
not proceeded far when they met a company of women 
and children. “Why, you lazy old fellow,” cried several 
tongues at once, “how can you ride while that poor little 
tired boy can hardly keep pace by your side?” The good- 
natured miller immediately took his son up behind him 
on the donkey. They had now almost reached the town. 

“Pray, honest friend,” said a citizen, “is that donkey 
your own?” “Yes,” said the old man. “One would not 
think so by the way you load him. Why, you two are 
better able to carry him than he you.” “Anything to 
please you;” said the old man, “we will at least try. 

So, getting off, he and his son tied the legs of the 
poor donkey together, and by the help of a pole endeav¬ 
ored to carry him on their shoulders over the bridge near 
the town. The people came in crowds to laugh; the 
donkey became frightened, broke the cords that bound 
him, and tumbling off the pole, fell into the river and 
was drowned. 

The old man, vexed and exhausted, made the best ol 
his way home again, convinced that by trying to please 
everybody he had pleased no one, and lost his donkey 
into the bargain. 


MAN AND HIS ATTRIBUTES, 

A horse, an ox, and a dog, driven to great straits by 
the cold, sought the protection of a man. He received 
them kindly, lighted a fire, and warmed them. He gave 



36 


STORIES AND FABLES 


plenty of oats to the horse, hay to the ox, and meat from 
his own table to the dog. Grateful for these favors, they 
determined to repay him to the best of their ability. 

For this purpose they divided the term of his life 
among them, and each endowed one portion of it with 
the qualities which chiefly characterized himself. 

The horse chose his earliest years, and endowed them 
with his own attributes; hence, man is in his youth im¬ 
petuous, headstrong, and obstinate in maintaining his 
own opinion. 

The ox took the next term of his life; man is, there¬ 
fore, in middle life fond of work, devoted to labor, 
resolute to amass wealth and husband his resources. 

The end of life was reserved for the dog, wherefore, 
the old man is often snappish, irritable, hard to please, 
selfish, tolerant to his own household, but averse to 
strangers, and to all who do not contribute to his comfort. 


THE LARK AND HER FAMILY. 

A lark had made her nest in the early spring on the 
young green wheat. The brood had almost grown to 
their proper strength, gained the use of their wings, and 
arrived at the full plumage of their feathers, when the 
owner of the field, looking at his crop, now fully ripe, 
said, “The time is come when I must send for my neigh¬ 
bors to help me with my harvest.” One of the young 
larks heard his speech, and hurried to repeat it to his 
mother, asking her at the same time to what place they 
could remove for safety. There is no occasion to move 
yet, my dear,” said the mother; “the man who only sends 
for his friends to help him with his harvest, is not really 
in earnest.” 



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37 


The owner of the field came again a few days later, 
and saw the grain falling from the wheat from excess of 
ripeness, and said, “I will come myself to-morrow, with 
as many reapers as I can hire, and will get in the harvest. ” 
The lark, on hearing these words, said to her family, 
“It is time now, my little ones, for us to be off; the man 
is in earnest this time, for he no longer trusts to his 
friends, but will reap the field himself. 


THE TWO MICE. 

A country mouse once invited a town mouse, a par¬ 
ticular friend, to pay him a visit and partake of his country 
fare. As they ran about the bare fields, eating wheat- 
stalks and roots pulled from the hedge-row, the town- 
mouse said to his friend, “You live here the life of the 
ants, while in my house is the horn of plenty. I am sur¬ 
rounded with every luxury, and if yo*u will come with me, 
as I much wish you would, you shall have an ample share 
of my dainties.’’ 

The country mouse was easily persuaded, and returned 
to town with his friend. 

On his arrival the town mouse placed before him 
bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey, raisins, and, last 
of all, brought a dainty bit of cheese from a basket. The 
country mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such 
good cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms, and 
lamented his own hard lot. Just as they were beginning 
to eat, someone opened the door, and they both ran off 
as fast’as they could to a hole so narrow that they could 
scarcely get in out of sight. They had hardly again 
begun their repast, when someone else came in, and again 



38 


STORIES AND FABLES 




they had to run for their lives. At last the country mouse, 
almost famished, said to his friend, “Although you have 
prepared for me so dainty a feast, I must leave you to 
enjoy it by yourself. It is surrounded by too many dan¬ 
gers to suit me. I prefer the bare fields and hedgerow, 
so that I can live in safety and without fear.” 


THE HORSE AND THE LION. 

A lion seeing a nice fat horse, was very anxious to 
have a piece of him for his supper, but did not know just 
how to get him into his power. At last he thought of 
this plan: He gave out that he was a physician, who, 
having gained experience in foreign lands by study and 
practice, had made himself capable of curing any sort of 
disease to which animals were subject, hoping by this 
strategem to get an easier admittance among cattle, and 
thus find an opportunity to execute his design. 

The horse suspected his design, and resolved to be 
even with him, so he prayed the lion to give him his 
advice in relation to a thorn he had got into his foot, which 
had quite lamed him, and gave him great pain. The lion 
readily agreed, and desired that he might see the foot, 
upon which the horse extended one of his hind feet, and 
when the lion was pretending to be most intent upon his 
examination of the injured member, the horse gave him a 
tremendous kick in the face which stunned him and left 
him sprawling upon the ground. In the meantime, the 
horse ran away, greatly pleased at the success of the trick 
by which he had outwitted his enemy. 



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39 


THE NORTHWIND AND THE SUN. 

The north wind and the sun once laid a wager as to 
which could the sooner induce a traveller to lay aside his 
cloak. The north wind first tried his skill. He tugged 
and tore, he stormed and beat, but all to no purpose; the 
traveller only folded his cloak the more closely about 
him. Then the sun took his term. He wrapped the 
traveller about with his gentle rays, and shone more and 
more brightly, and with greater heat, until the man was 
glad to lay aside his cloak and continue his journey 
without it. More can be accomplished, usually, by kind 
words and gentle manners than by storm and bluster. 


THE TROJAN WAR. 

Venus promised Paris, the son of Priam, king of Troy, 
that if he would pronounce her to be the most beautiful 
of the goddesses, he should have for his wife Helen, wife 
of the king of Sparta, who was the handsomest woman in 
the world. Paris agreed to the terms, and going to 

Sparta, carried Helen off to Troy. 

The king of Sparta called upon the other Grecian 
states to aid him in his revenge. Accordingly, onei hun¬ 
dred thousand men, under Agamemnon and Achilles, 

crossed the sea and besieged Troy. 

The city was defended by massive walls and by brave 
men, and the siege lasted ten years. It was finally taken 

by strategem. , , , 

The Greeks feigned to give up the siege, and began 

to prepare as if for departure, but asked of the Trojans 



40 


STORIES AND FABLES 


that they might be allowed, before going, to present an 
offering to the goddess Minerva. 

Permission was given, and they drew to the gates of 
the city a huge wooden horse, which was taken by the 
Trojans to the temple of Minerva. Some of the Greek 
warriors were concealed in the wooden horse, and as soon 
as it grew dark they crept out and opened the gates of 
the city for the whole army to come in. 

The city was destroyed, and most of the Trojans 
killed. 


THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES. 

Damocles was a frequent visitor at the court of 
Dionysius, the tyrant or ruler of Syracuse. He said to 
Dionysius one day, “How happy you must be in the 
midst of all this luxury!” 

The tyrant invited him to a banquet the next day, 
that he might experience for himself the happiness that 
wealth and power can give. Damocles came, and sur¬ 
rounded by everything that could please the eye or add 
to the comfort of the body, he sat down to a table spread 
bountifully with everything the appetite could crave. 
As he ate, he meditated upon the extreme happiness all 
these things must confer upon him to whom they 
belonged, when happening to cast his eyes toward the 
ceiling, he saw suspended above his head by a single 
hair, a glittering sword. 

All his pleasure was gone; his appetite had fled, and 
not one of the beautiful things in the room had any charm 
for him. He had no thought for anything but that 
dreadful sword, that moved as he moved, keeping itself 



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41 


suspended over his head, and that might at any moment 
fall upon him and kill him. 

Unable to endure it longer, he begged to be excused 
from the table. The tyrant, enjoying his confusion, dis¬ 
missed him, saying, “Now you see how happy are the 
kings and rulers whom you have been wont to envy.” 


THE DONKEY AND HIS LOAD. 

Two donkeys, one loaded with salt and the other with 
wool, came at the same time to the bank of a wide stream. 
Each complained of the heat of the day, and the weight 
of his burden. After resting a moment, the one that was 
loaded with the salt proposed to the other that, instead 
of going over the bridge, they should ford the stream, 
and thus bathe and cool their weary limbs. “All right,” 
said the other, “provided you go first, and see how deep 
it is.” So in he plunged; the cool water was delightfully 
refreshing, and the salt, dissolving, soon found its way 
down stream, thus lightening his load until he scarcely 
felt the burden. 

He called out encouragingly to the other, telling him 
how it had improved his condition, and urged him to 
follow immediately. The poor donkey started, but the 
wool grew heavier and heavier, till burden, man and 
donkey sank to rise no more. 


THE DRAGON’S TEETH. 

Cadmus, after searching many years for his sister, 
who had been mysteriously carried away, at last became 
convinced that further search was useless. His father, the 




42 


STORIES AND FABLES 


king, had forbidden him to return without her, so he con¬ 
sulted the oracle at Delphi as to what he should do next. 
The oracle said, “Follow the cow. ’ Poor Cadmus 
thought the oracle was making sport of him, and was 
wandering off disconsolately, when he saw a brindle cow 
in the path before him. Something prompted him to 
follow her, and he was soon joined by other people who 
seemed to be under the same mysterious influence. 

As they went, they planned to build a city and make 
Cadmus their king, but when the cow stopped and they 
were about to commence their preparations, they were 
attacked by a large dragon, and all slain except Cadmus. 
He had a terrific struggle with the dragon, and finally 
killed it. The oracle then told him to sow its teeth in 
the field near by. 

He did so, and there sprang from the ground a whole 
host of armed men, who, as soon as they were fully out 
of the ground, were about to rush upon him with their 
swords. He threw a stone at the one nearest him, it 
glanced and struck the next, who thought his neighbor 
had thrown it. In a few minutes all were engaged in 
mortal combat, and all were slain except five. These 
Cadmus ordered to lay down their swords, and proceed 
at once to build a house for him. 

They obeyed, and in a very short time he had a white 
marble palace, in which he spent the remainder of his life.. 


SLAYING THE MINOTAUR. 

After a war between Athens and Crete, peace was 
granted by Minas, king of Crete, upon condition that 
each year seven young men, and as many maidens, should 
be sent from Athens to Crete, to be devoured by the 



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43 


Minotaur, a frightful monster that was kept by the king 
for this and similar purposes. For three years this frightful 
tribute had been paid, and the time had come forthe fourth. 

Theseus, the son of the king, who had but lately re¬ 
turned to the court, heard the cries and lamentations 
made by the people as they learned upon whose children 
the lot had this time fallen. On being told the cause of 
the outcry, he offered to go himself that he might try to 
end this fearful sacrifice. In spite of the entreaties of his 
father, he insisted upon going. When they had reached 
Crete, Theseus protested in vain against the cruel deed. 
The king told him that to punish him for his audacity in 
daring to make any protest against his authority, he 
should be the first victim on the following morning. 

But the king’s daughter took pity on him, admiring 
him for his courage in speaking so bravely for himself 
and his companions. After all was quiet for the night, 
she aided him in getting out of the prison, restored his 
sword which had been taken from him, and offered him 
the chance to escape. 

This he refused to do while the monster that was to 
devour his companions lived. Then she led him to the 
labyrinth in the midst of which was the Minotaur, and 
lest he should be unable to find his way back, she gave 
him one end of a silken cord while she held the other. 
He heard the roar of the monster, hungry for human 
blood, and guided by the sound, he found his way through 
the mazes of the labyrinth. 

After a terrible battle with the monster he succeeded 
in killing him, and with the help of the princess, he aided 
his companions in making their way out of the prison 
and back to their ships. They set sail immediately, and 
in due time reached Athens in triumph. 


44 


STORIES AND FABLES 


ULYSSES AND HIS PENT UP TEMPESTS. 

When Ulysses left Troy for his voyage home to 
Greece, after the Trojan war, in order that he might 
have calm, bright weather, EoJus, the ruler of the winds, 
gave him some very stout leather bags, in each of which 
was one of the tempests that visit that portion of the sea 
over which he must sail, at that season of the year. 

All was well as far as the weather was concerned 
until one night when Ulysses, worn out with watching 
that they might avoid the other dangers that encom¬ 
passed their way, lay down to rest. His sailors, seeing 
him fall into a deep sleep, seized the opportunity to 
examine the leather bags, which they supposed contained 
some of the Trojan booty. 

No sooner had they opened the bags than from each 
leaped the hurricane that had been confined in it. Shak¬ 
ing themselves free, like some monster that has been con¬ 
fined in a space much too small for him, they whistled 
through the sails, lashed the sea into foam, and scattered 
the fleet in all directions. The ships were in great danger 
of destruction, and the men of drowning, for many hours, 
but the storm finally subsided somewhat, and the ship 
in which Ulysses was, found shelter near a small island, 
though they had been driven many miles out of their 
course. The other vessels were all destroyed, and the 
men were eaten by giants that lived upon an island near 
to which they were driven. 


ULYSSES AND HIS MAGIC FLOWER. 

As Ulysses and his companions were on their way 
back to Greece after the Trojan war, they were shipwrecked 
upon an island unknown to them, and were in danger of 



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45 


starving to death. They saw a beautiful palace in the 
midst of the trees not far from where they were, but they 
were afraid to go to it in search of food lest they might 
encounter some terrible danger, similar to those they had 
already experienced. 

Finally they divided the company into two divisions, 
and decided by lot which should go to try to get some 
food. The party to which Ulysses belonged remained 
upon the shore, while the other went up to the palace. 
Now, in the palace dwelt a beautiful woman who pos¬ 
sessed the magic power of changing men into the lower 
animals which they in their nature most resembled. 

As the party of shipwrecked sailors reached the gates, 
they were met by a crowd of lions, tigers, dogs, and 
wolves. These had formerly been men of brutal, ferocious 
natures. These sailors were more fond of eating and 
drinking than of anything else in the world, so after 
drinking of the magic potion given with the other food 
and drink that the mistress of the palace supplied with 
great liberality, they were changed into swine. 

Their leader, suspecting some mischief, had not gone 
to the table with them, and when he saw what had hap¬ 
pened to his companions, managed to make his escape, 
unharmed, from the palace. He hastened back to the 
party on the shore to report the occurrence. Ulysses, in 
spite of the entreaties of the others, immediately set out 
alone to go to their relief. He obtained from Mercury a 
magic flower whose fragrance, if frequently inhaled, would 
protect him from the magic arts of the beautiful woman 
in the palace. Arriving within the gates, he, by the aid 
of the fragrance of the flower, was able to resist the in¬ 
fluence that tried to change him into a fox. He com¬ 
pelled the beautiful magician to restore his friends to 


46 


STORIES AND FABLES 


human form, and they took up their abode at the palace 
for the remainder of their stay upon the island. 


PROSERPINA AND KING PLUTO. 

One day Ceres left her little daughter Proserpina to 
play upon the sea-shore with the sea-nymphs, while she 
went to attend to her work in the ripening grain fields. 
The sea-nymphs made a beautiful chain of shells for her, 
and she, to return their kindness, went into the field to 
get them some flowers. She only meant to go a little 
ways, for her mother had asked her not to go far from 
home, but the flowers tempted her to go on and on still 
a little further to get a more beautiful blossom, until she 
was out of sight and hearing of the sea-nymphs. 

At last she came to a plant more beautiful than all 
the rest, and she determined to pull it up and take it 
home to her mother. She began to tug at it; it was 
firmly fastened in the ground, and for a time resisted her 
efforts. Finally, it gave way and came up, leaving a 
great hole which grew larger and larger every minute, 
until it covered half the field and seemed to reach the 
middle of the earth, 

Then out of it came four black horses, drawing a 
golden chariot in which was seated a man dressed like a 
king, and having on his head a jewelled crown. He spoke 
to Proserpina, and tried to coax her to get into his 
chariot and go home with him. 

The little girl could not be persuaded to leave her 
mother, though he offered her the most beautiful play¬ 
things he could imagine. 

At last he seized her, took her in his chariot and car¬ 
ried her off, screaming at the top of her voice for her 



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47 


mother. They went faster than the wind for many miles, 
and in a short times reached the entrance to his under¬ 
ground palace, for Proserpina’s captor was no other than 
King Pluto, monarch of the subterranean regions. 

He was very kind to her, gave her the most beautiful 
things his kingdom afforded—diamonds and all other 
precious stones, gold, silver, and other precious metals— 
and tried in every way to make her contented. But it 
was all in vain; she refused even to eat until she should 
see her mother. Her mother, in the meantime, had 
searched the world over for her; in despair, she declared 
that nothing should grow until she had found her daugh¬ 
ter. Mercury came to her assistance, and Pluto, in danger 
of starving, gave Proserpina back to her mother. After 
their joyful greeting, Ceres asked her daughter, anxiously, 
if she had eaten anything while in Pluto’s dominions. 
“Nothing,” answered Proserpina, “until just as the mes¬ 
senger came for me. I was then tasting a pomegranate, 
but it was so dried up that there was nothing left but 
six seeds.” “Alas!” exclaimed the mother, “for each of 
those seeds you will have to go to the palace and remain 
six months.” But Proserpina thought she could easily do 
that; she had found her mother, and, if she could live 
with her part of the time, she did not dislike King Pluto 
so much but that she would enjoy his beautiful palace for 
a time. 


PRINCE JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE. 

About fifty young men of .Greece, led by a hero 
named Jason, set off upon what is known as the Argo- 
nautic Expedition. Their object was the recovery of the 
Golden Fleece, which hung upon a tree in a sacred grove 
on a distant island. 



4 8 


STORIES AND FABLES 


This fleece of gold was so beautiful that it was greatly 
desired by all the neighboring kings, and it was so care¬ 
fully guarded that no one could even attempt to take it 
without losing his life. After many adventures the fifty 
Argonauts landed upon the island, and Jason went to 
meet the King, and state his design. He had come to 
carry off the Golden Fleece, and when he reached Greece 
with it he was to have, as his own, his father’s throne, 
which had been taken from him. The King listened in 
angry silence until Jason had finished, then told him what 
he would have to do in order to obtain the Golden Fleece. 
First, he must tame his two brazen bulls, each of which 
had in his stomach a furnace to keep up the fire which 
breathed out from his lungs, scorching to a cinder every¬ 
thing that came near him. After they were tamed, he 
must plow with them the sacred ground about the grove, 
and sow the dragon’s teeth. From these armed men 
would spring whom he must conquer. 

Then, worst of all, was the dreadful dragon, that lay 
twisted about the trunk of the tree upon which hung the 
Golden Fleece. 

Jason, undismayed, started upon his dangerous pro¬ 
ject. As he left the palace, he met the King’s daughter, 
who was much pleased with the handsome young prince, 
and she offered to assist him. She gave him an ointment 
that would protect his body from the flames breathed out 
by the bulls, and bade him not fear them. He started to 
meet them; they heard his steps arid came rushing to¬ 
wards him, roaring and breathing out great sheets of 
flame. He caught each by a horn, and held them till 
they were tame, then hitched them to the plow. He 
plowed the sacred field, and sowed the dragon’s teeth 
without difficulty, but soon the whole ground was covered 


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49 


with armed men, who were rushing upon him with drawn 
swords. He threw a stone at the first in such a manner 
that it glanced off and hit the next who supposed his 
neighbor had thrown it. He fell upon him with his sword, 
and in a few minutes the whole company were fighting 
each other. Jason stood by and watched them till they 
had slain each other to the last man. 

The princess then went with him to find the great 
prize. But first the terrible dragon must be overcome. 
This the princess accomplished by throwing down its 
huge throat, as it came to meet them, a box containing 
a powerful magic potion. The dragon immediately fell 
back as if dead. Jason seized the fleece, and made his 
way as fast as possible back to the ship where he had left 
his companions. They were pursued by the angry King, 
but escaped with their famous prize, and returned to 
Greece in safety. 


DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 

Damon and Pythias were two young men of Syracuse, 
who had sworn eternal friendship for each other. Pythias, 
for some trifling misdemeanor, had been condemned to 
death by Dionysius. His sister was to be married just 
before the time appointed for his execution, and he was 
very anxious to attend her wedding, as he knew his 
presence was necessary to complete her happiness. His 
friend Damon offered to remain in his stead; the tyrant 
consented on condition that if he was not back by the 
time appointed his friend must suffer in his place. 

To this Damon readily agreed, and Pythias went to 
his home. After the marriage feast he put all his affairs 
in order, bade his friends adieu, and started back to the 
prison. A rain-storm came on, the streams were flooded, 



5 ° 


STORIES AND FABLES 


bridges were destroyed, and delay after delay arose until 
he almost despaired of being able to save the life of his 
friend. 

Damon waited with all confidence, replying to Dion¬ 
ysius’ taunts by saying, “I know he will come if he still 
lives.” The hour of the execution came, and yet no 
Pythias. Damon was led forth to the place of execution, 
but just as the ax was about to fall, a voice was heard, 
shouting, “Hold! I am coming!” and Pythias, breathless 
and dripping with perspiration, arrived upon the scene. 

Dionysius was overwhelmed with surprise. He re¬ 
leased Damon, pardoned Pythias, and begged that they 
would share with him their wonderful friendship. 


SOLOMON’S WISDOM. 

When the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, 
among the beautiful things she brought with her were 
two bouquets, one of natural and the other of artificial 
flowers, so skillfully made that it was impossible to tell 
one from the other. 

She stood before the King holding one in each hand, 
and asked him to tell her which were the ones made by 
nature. The wise King hesitated, so much alike were 
they, it seemed impossible to decide. In his perplexity 
he raised his eyes to the window, and saw a bee upon the 
lattice. Turning to an attendant he said, “Throw open 
the window, and admit some fresh air.” The bee came 
in through the open window, flew straight to one of the 
bouquets, and buried itself unseen by any eyes save those 
of the Wise Man, in the lovely flowers. “The flowers in 
thy left hand, Oh Queen, are the ones fair nature has 



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formed; those in thy right, though beautiful, are the 
work of man.” The astonished Queen murmured, “Truly, 
thy wisdom is wonderful.’’ 


CONFUCIUS. 

Confucius lived about five hundred years before Christ, 
and is the most illustrious person of Chinese history. 
The following anecdote is told of him. When a boy at 
school, tired and discouraged with his work, he resolved 
to abandon the pursuit of knowledge, and devote himself 
to some other occupation. About the time he came to 
this conclusion, as he was returning from school one day, 
he saw an old woman rubbing an iron baron a whetstone. 
Passing beside her, he asked what she was doing, and to 
his surprise learned that she had lost her knitting needle, 
and was going to replace it by rubbing down the iron 
bar. Filled with admiration of her perseverance, he ex¬ 
claimed, “Shall this old woman have more resolution 
than I, within whose reach are the highest honors of the 
empire?” 

He returned to his studies with renewed energy, and 
became one of the greatest sages of the world’s history. 
His writings have been received almost as divine revela¬ 
tion by the Chinese, and probably no other uninspired 
man has exerted so great an influence for good. 


CYRUS THE GREAT. 

Cyrus was the grandson of Astyages, King of Media. 
About the time of his birth, Astyages dreamed that the 
child would live to conquer all Asia. In alarm he gave 




52 


STORIES AND FABLES 


him to an officer to be put to death, but the officer evaded 
the responsibility by commanding a herdsman to leave 
him upon a distant mountain top until he should die of 
exposure and starvation. The herdsman pitied the poor 
child, took him home and brought him up as his own son. 

One day, Cyrus having been chosen King by his 
companions, punished very severely a boy-subject. The 
father of the boy complained of it to Astyages, who sent 
for Cyrus. When the boy came into the presence of the 
King, his noble features and bearing, and his equally 
noble .words, proclaimed his royal birth. Astyages sent 
for the officer to whom he had given him, and learning 
the truth, he commanded that the son of the officer 
should be brought to the court as a companion for Cyrus, 
and that the father should attend a banquet at the palace. 
At this feast he was served with the roasted flesh of his 
own son. After he had eaten of it, Astyages offered him 
a basket in which were the head and limbs of his son, and 
he thus learned what had been his fate. Horrified as he 
was, he dared show no emotion, and on the King’s asking 
him how he liked the meat he had had for dinner, replied, 
“What pleases the King pleases me.” But his turn for 
revenge soon came. He roused Cyrus to revolt, and in 
the first battle he betrayed the Median army to the young 
prince. He afterwards became one of his most devoted 
friends. 


CROESUS. 

Croesus, King of Lydia, was so rich that his name has 
become proverbial. He was captured by Cyrus the 
Great, and condemned to death. As he mounted the 
funeral pile he was heard to exclaim, “Solon! Solon!’’ 



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53 


Cyrus, wondering, asked the reason of his calling 
upon the name of Solon. Croesus replied that the famous 
Greek philosopher had once visited him, and making 
light of riches, said that no man should be considered 
happy until the manner of his death was known. Cyrus 
was so struck with the reply that he released the prisoner 
and made him his confidential friend. 


DIOGENES. 

Diogenes was a famous Greek philosopher, of the 
school called Cynics. His habits were austere and ec¬ 
centric. He accustomed himself to endure great hard¬ 
ships, and manifested great contempt for the comforts of 
life, as well as for the customs of the world. He is said 
to have lived in a tub. He often reproved the people of 
Athens for their follies and vices, and was renowned for 
his witty and sarcastic sayings. He once received a visit 
from Alexander the Great, who inquired, “What can I 
do for you?” “Cease to stand between me and the sun,” 
answered the cynic. Alexander was so much pleased 
with the answer that he said to those standing by, If I 
were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.” 

Plato defined man as a featherless biped. Diogenes 
plucked the feathers from a fowl, and holding it up, said, 
“Behold Plato’s man!” He was once captured by the 
pirates, and when about to be sold as a slave those who 
came to buy asked him what he could do. I can govern 
men, therefore, sell me to someone who needs a master, 
was the reply. He was purchased by a citizen of Corinth, 
who made him his children’s tutor. 



54 


STORIES AND FABLES 


WILLIAN TELL. 

About the time the Swiss Cantons had resolved upon 
obtaining their independence from the tyranny of the 
Austrian yoke, and their leaders had planned an uprising 
of the people, affairs were brought to a climax by the 
following incident. Gessler, the Austrian governor, to 
show his authority and humble the Swiss, ordered his hat 
to be set upon a pole in the market place, and commanded 
that all who passed by it should bow to it in reverence. 
William Tell, a prominent Swiss leader, refused to do 
this, and was immediately arrested and taken before 
Gessler. The tyrant had heard of Tell’s wonderful skill 
as an archer, and anxious to see an exhibition of it, he 
ordered him to shoot an apple from the head of his son. 
The boy, summoned by an officer of the court, fearlessly 
stationed himself in the market-place, and encouraged 
him to shoot by reminding him of his wonderful feats 
with his bow and arrow. Tell at last summoned courage 
to draw his bow. The arrow, in its swift flight, carried 
with it the apple, and the boy was safe. 

Gessler was about to release Tell, as he had promised 
to do if he was successful, when he noticed a second 
arrow partly concealed in his belt, and asked the purpose. 
“That,” said Tell, “was for thee if I had killed my son.” 
Regardless of his promise, the tyrant ordered that he 
should be taken to a prison on the other side of the lake. 
As they were crossing the lake, a violent storm arose, 
and the boatmen were unable to make any headway 
against the waves. Alarmed for their safety, Gessler 
ordered that Tell, who was also renowned for his skill in 
rowing, should be loosened from his chains, that he might 
row the boat to the shore. He skillfully brought the boat 
to the rocky shore, and before anyone could prevent, he 


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55 


seized his bow and arrows, leaped ashore, and turning, 
shot Gessler through the heart. 

Disappearing among the rocks, he joined his com¬ 
rades, and gave the signal agreed upon for the uprising 
of the people. After a brief struggle, they gained their 
independence. 


REGULUS. 

Regulus was a famous general, who led the armies of 
Rome against the Carthaginians in one of the Punic wars. 

He was taken prisoner, and carried to Carthage, and 
after a time sent back to Rome with proposals for peace. 

Before leaving Carthage they made him swear to re¬ 
turn if their conditions were rejected. When he arrived 
at the gates of the city, he refused to enter, saying that 
he was no longer a Roman citizen, but a Carthaginian 
slave. He stated to the officers sent to confer with him 
the terms of the proposed peace, but at the same time 
urged them most earnestly not to accept them, because 
he thought them unworthy of the dignity and honor of 
Rome. 

By showing them the exhausted condition of the Car¬ 
thaginian army, he at length induced them to reject the 
proposals for peace, and to decide upon continuing the 
war. 

Then turning from his weeping wife and children, and 
without having visited his home, he went back to Car¬ 
thage, and the death by torture that he knew awaited 
him there. The people, enraged at the failure of their 
scheme, cut off his eyelids and exposed him to the rays of 
a tropical sun, and then thrust him into a barrel studded 
with nails. 



56 


STORIES AND FABLES 


So perished this martyr, faithful to his promise and 
his country. His name lives as the personification of 
sincerity and patriotic devotion. 


DEMOSTHENES. 

Demosthenes was the most famous orator of ancient 
times. His father, who was a cutler and furniture maker, 
left his children, Demosthenes and a sister, an amount 
equivalent to $15,000. This their guardians converted 
largely to their own use, and Demosthenes studied law 
that he might understand how to prosecute them for de¬ 
frauding him and his sister of their property. 

Admiring the oratory of one of the officers of the 
court, he resolved to give his whole attention to that 
study, though his health was feeble, his manners un¬ 
graceful, his breath short, and his voice stammering and 
indistinct. In order to overcome these defects in his 
speech, and to strengthen his voice, he practiced speaking 
with pebbles in his mouth, on the sea-shore, loud enough 
to be heard above its waves, and to overcome his awk¬ 
wardness, he practised gesticulation before the mirror. 

When he first appeared before a popular assembly, 
his only applause was the laughter of his audience, but 
not discouraged, he applied himself still more carefully 
to his study. He shaved one side of his head, that it 
might be impossible for him to go into society. When 
he again appeared as an orator he attained complete 
success. His most noted orations were those pronounced 
against Philip of Macedon, called Phillipics, and the ora¬ 
tion entitled “On the Crown,” by which the contest be¬ 
tween him and his rival, ALschines, was closed in his favor. 



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57 


SOCRATES. 

Socrates, one of the greatest sages of the world’s his¬ 
tory, was homely, ungainly, and ill-dressed, and used to 
go wandering in his bare feet about the streets of Athens, 
incessantly asking and answering questions. He was a 
self-taught philosopher, and believed that he had a special 
mission from the gods. He discussed questions pertain¬ 
ing to life and morality, and taught the unity of God, the 
immortality of the soul, the beauty and necessity of 
virtue, and the responsibility of man. He believed im¬ 
plicitly in oracles, and frequently consulted them. 

He was accused of introducing new divinities, of not 
worshiping the gods of the people, and of corrupting the 
minds of the youth, and was condemned to death. He 
was afforded ample opportunity for escape, but he refused 
all the entreaties of his friends, saying that he had always 
taught obedience to the laws, and that he did not wish to 
prove false to his own teaching. 

He calmly drank the fatal cup of hemlock, bade fare¬ 
well to his friends, and awaited the coming of death. 


EMBALMING. 

The art of embalming, as practiced by the ancient 
Egyptians, was a secret known only to the priests into 
whose charge it was given. After death the body was 
immediately taken to the embalmers, the friends spending 
the time of its absence in weeping and wailing, sitting 
unwashed and unshaved, in soiled and torn garments. 

The embalmer removed the inner parts of the body, 
and cleansed them with palm wine and aromatic spices. 
They were then either returned to the body or buried in 



STORIES AND FABLES 


58 

a separate vase. The body was cleansed, and filled with 
a mixture of spices, and kept in a solution of nitre for 
forty days. It was then wrapped in linen bandages, 
smeared on the inside with gum. Many hundred yards 
of this bandage were used for a single body. A thick 
papyrus case was fitted, while damp, to the shape 
of the body. This was painted and otherwise orna¬ 
mented upon the outside. After the process was com¬ 
pleted, the mummy was taken home to await burial. 
It was sometimes kept for some time in the house, the 
family spending part of each day in weeping and mourn¬ 
ing over it. It was sometimes brought from its closet to 
join in the festivities of the family. 

When the time came for its burial it was carried to 
the banks of the sacred lake, and there tried. If no evil 
could be proved against it, it was rowed across the lake 
and buried; if accusations of having led an evil life were 
made, the friends were obliged to take it back to their 
home, and by gifts and devotions pacify the gods until 
they would permit the burial. 


SPONGES. 

The sponge of commerce is merely the frame work or 
external skeleton in which the real animal once lived. This 
single skeleton supports a whole colony of minute animals, 
that take their food from the currents of water flowing 
through their habitation, entering by one set of openings 
and coming out by another. 

Sponges are obtained by diving, and by the use of 
cranes or long sticks. In the waters of the Mediterranean 
the former method is used; in the clear waters in the 
vicinity of the Bahamas, the latter. 



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The crane is a pole about three feet in length, with 
curved prongs at one end. It is used to detach the sponge 
from the rock to which it clings, and to convey it to the 
boat. The water is so clear that with the aid of a glass 
sponges can easily be distinguished from other forms of 
marine animal life at a depth of sixty feet. When first 
taken out, they are of a dirty brown color, and feel like 
pieces of raw, soft liver. They are then washed and 
dried repeatedly, until there remains only the fibrous 
skeleton. This is then thoroughly cleansed and made 
ready for sale. 


THE SILK WORM. 

The eggs of the silk worm are about as large as the 
head of a small pin, and are attached to the surface upon 
which they are laid by a gummy substance which be 
comes silky when hardened. The young caterpillar is of 
a yellowish gray color, and is about a quarter of an inch 
in length; it grows rapidly, changing its skin whenever 
it becomes too small. 

Before each of these changes it seems to become 
sleepy and ceases to eat; the skin bursts near the head, 
and' the caterpillar, by twisting and turning its body, 
thrusts off the skin backwards. It changes four or five 
times. The process seems to be a very trying one for 
the poor insect, many losing their lives while under¬ 
going it. 

The silk-producing organs are two large glands, one 
on either side of the body, that terminate in spinnarets 
in the mouth. When about to open its cocoon, it ceases 
to eat, and works industriously until the whole is finished. 
It first produces the loose fiber on the outside, and then 



6o 


STORIES AND FABLES 


the finer threads on the inside of the cocoon. As it spins 
it moves its head from side to side, fastening in place the 
threads about the inside of the prison cell. 

When finished the cocoon is about two inches shorter 
than the body, which coils up to accommodate itself to 
its cramped quarters, the whole cocoon not being larger 
than a pigeon’s egg. 

The perfect insect is of a whitish color, with a pale 
brown bar across the wings. They lay their eggs, and 
die in a very short time. The eggs are laid near the end 
of one summer, and hatched early in the next. 


SILK. 

When the cocoons of the silk worm are completed, 
which is known by the absence of sound within, they are 
sorted, and a sufficient number laid aside for next season. 
The others are placed in an oven hot enough to kill the 
chrysalis. This is done to prevent the insect from spoiling 
the silk by eating its way through the cocoon. The flossy 
outside covering is removed, and they are put into basins 
of water kept warm by steam, to soften the gum which 
holds the fibers together. When the ends are loosened, 
the operator takes from three to five, twists them together, 
and winds them upon a reel, watching carefully to keep 
the number uniform, as they are liable to break or one to 
run out before the others. 

Each cocoon yields about 300 yards, and it takes 
1,200 to 1,500 yards of the fiber to make 300 yards of 
the filament of raw silk. 

The raw silk is made into hanks, and is ready for the 
process called throwing. The hanks are put into clean 



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6l 


soap and water, and carefully washed, then stretched 
upon swifts, and wound from them on the bobbins. These 
are taken to the cleaning machine, when the threads are 
made to pass through a small aperture, which is the gauge 
of the size of the thread, and which removes any remain¬ 
ing gum or other substance It has then to be twisted, 
doubled and twisted again, and is then ready for the dyer 
and the weaver. 


COTTON. 

Cotton is a native of the tropical regions of Asia, 
Africa and North America, though its cultivation has 
been carried far into the temperate zones. 

It is a small shrub, bearing three- to five-iobed leaves 
and rather large flowers, usually yellow, though some¬ 
times partly or wholly purple. It is a perennial, but in 
cultivation the old plants are destroyed and new ones 
grown from the seed each year. The fruit is a three- to 
five-celled pod, which splits open when ripe; the seeds 
are numerous and are enveloped in the cotton, which 
spreads elastically from the pod when it opens. The 
plant is very delicate, and requires a peculiar climate and 
soil for its development. 

The ground is prepared in winter by plowing and 
laying off in rows about four feet apart. The seeds are 
sown in furrows made with a small plow. The sowing 
begins in March, continues through April, and sometimes 
into May. The young plant makes its appearance in 
eight or ten days, blooms in the early part of June, and 
ripens in August and September. It thrives best while 
growing in a hot, moist atmosphere, with occasional 
showers. Too much rain producing wood at the expense 



6 2 


STORIES AND FABLES 


of cotton, and drouth causing a stunted growth. From 
the date of blooming until it is picked, warm, dry weather 
is most favorable. The cotton is picked by hand into 
bags or baskets suspended from the shoulders of the 
pickers. After picking it is spread out and dried, and 
then separated from the seeds, generally by the use of 
the cotton-gin. 


TEA. 

The tea of commerce is the dried leaves of an ever¬ 
green plant that grows chiefly in China and Japan. The 
shrub grows from five to six feet in length, and bears 
lanceolate leaves, two to six inches in length, and large 
white, fragrant flowers. 

The difference in varieties of tea usually results from 
differences in time of picking and in preparation. 

The tea-farms are mostly in the north of China, are of 
small size, and require close attention. They are gen¬ 
erally situated upon the hillside, where the soil is deep 
and well drained. The first picking is made in April, 
when the young buds are swelling; this yields the finest 
varieties of tea. The ordinary picking begins in May, 
and there is still a third, later in the season. 

The later gatherings are more bitter and woody, and 
yield less soluble matter when steeped. For green teas, 
the leaves as soon as gathered are roasted in pans for 
about five minutes, and are then placed upon a table and 
rolled with the hands. They are then thoroughly dried, 
and are ready for commerce. 

For black teas they are exposed to the air before and 
after roasting, the difference in color and flavor seeming 
to result from the greater amount of oxygen absorbed. 



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63 


RICE. 

Rice is one of the most useful and extensively cultiv¬ 
ated of all the grains. It forms the principal article of 
food for nearly one-third of the human race. It was 
originally a native of the East Indies, but is now cultivated 
wherever the climate will permit. It requires a warm, 
moist climate, rather subtropical than tropical, and having 
the moisture in the soil rather than in the air. 

Rice is an annual, growing from two to six feet in 
height, and bearing the seed or grain on little separate 
stalks springing from the main stem. The whole plant, 
when the grain is ripe, looks very much like oats. 

It is sown in rows in the bottom of trenches which are 
about eighteen inches apart; the trenches are then filled 
with water to the depth of several inches, until the seeds 
germinate. The water is then drawn off, but the fields 
are flooded after a time to destroy the weeds, and again 
when the grain is near ripening. Marshy soils are not as 
suitable for the cultivation of rice as those which can be 
flooded at certain seasons of the growing plant. In some 
parts of China two crops of rice are grown in one year. 


FLAX. 

Flax is an annual of quick growth, probably a native 
of Southern Europe. It grows from one to three feet 
high, bearing alternate leaves on the straight, slender 
stem and branches. The flowers are blue, about an inch 
in diameter, and they last but a few hours. The seed- 
pots have ten cells, each containing a reddish-brown flat 
oval seed, very smooth and glossy. 



6 4 


STORIES AND FABLES 


Flax is cultivated either for the seed, from which a 
valuable oil is made, or for the fiber of the bark from 
which linen is made. 

The seed should be sown late in the spring. The 
plant requires careful culture, and matures in about three 
months. When it changes color after blooming, it is 
ready to pull. This should be done by hand, the whole 
plant being pulled up by the roots. After being pulled 
in this way, the plants are tied in bundles and set up in 
long shocks to dry. The seed is then threshed off with a 
flail, and the fiber is ready for a series of operations, the 
first of which is called retting. Its object is to destroy 
the glue which binds the fibers together. It consists in 
exposing the flax to the action of the dew and sunshine, 
or of water by keeping it submerged for a number of 
days. It is then ready for breaking , or drawing between 
wooden slots to break up the stalk without injuring the 
fiber. Next comes the scutching , by which the small 
particles of bark or stalk are removed. It is then Ratch¬ 
eted to free it from tangles and to straighten it. This 
process requires great care, and upon it depends to a 
great extent the value of the flax. It is then ready for 
the market, and appears in two forms—dressed flax, or 
the finer part of the fiber, or tow, the coarser part. 


BREAD-FRUIT. 

The bread-fruit tree is a native of Asia and the ad¬ 
jacent islands. It grows to a height of forty or fifty feet, 
and has large glossy, dark green leaves. The fruit is 
nearly spherical, is covered with rough rind, and weighs 
four or five pounds. 



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65 


It is yellow and juicy when ripe, but is usually eaten 
before it reaches that stage of maturity. The usual prac¬ 
tice is to gather it before it is fully ripe, cut it in slices, 
and bake it in the oven. It is then white and mealy, and 
resembles wheat bread. 

Sometimes the people of a village join to make a huge 
oven in which several hundred bread fruits are baked at 
once. They will keep fresh for two or three weeks. 

The tree produces several crops in a year. The timber 
is used for building, but is not durable. A sort of cloth 
is made from the inner bark, and a cement is made from 
the juice. 


GINGER. 

Ginger is a native of India and Southern China. The 
ginger of commerce is made from the root of the plant. 
This is dug when about a year old, and is scalded to 
prevent its sprouting. If it is dried at once, it constitutes 
the black ginger; if it is bleached first, it is called white 
ginger. That from Jamaica is most highly esteemed. 
Calcutta exports the largest amount. Canton supplies 
preserved ginger root, which is boiled and then cured 
with sugar. Ginger is used as a flavoring for food and 
for medicine. 


GUNPOWDER. 

Gunpowder was first used about 1350, and it is the 
oldest and most generally useful of all explosive agents. 
It is a mixture of potassium nitrate, carbon and sulphur; 
about 75 parts of the first, 13 of the second, and 12 of 
the third being used. The ingredients are finely pulver¬ 
ized, thoroughly mixed, compressed into cakes, granu- 




66 


STORIES AND FABLES 


lated, separated by sieves into kinds containing different 
sized grains, glazed, dried, and sifted to remove all dust. 

In storage, special precautions against fire and water 
are necessary. A slight spark or a very high temperature 
causes an explosion, while the least moisture will spoil 
the gunpowder. By varying the number of parts of the 
ingredients used, either a slow-burning or a quick-burn¬ 
ing explosion may be obtained. 

The explosion is caused by the sudden conversion of 
a solid into a gas, and the heat evolved by the sudden 
chemical change. The pressure of exploding gunpowder 
has been estimated to be about forty tons to the square 
inch. 


VENUS’ FLY TRAP. 

This very singular plant grows in moist, sandy soil, 
and is found in the southeastern part of North Carolina. 
The plant is a perennial, with a rosette of root leaves 
from the midst of which rises a scape about six inches in 
height, terminating in a corymb of white flowers. It de¬ 
rives its name from the irritability of its leaves. 

The leaf-stalk bears at its extremity a round leaf whose 
margin is furnished with long bristly hairs. The surface 
of the leaf has also many of these hairs, so that an insect 
cannot cross the leaf without coming in contact with 
them. As soon as one of these hairs is touched, the sides 
of the leaf instantly close together, the bristles on the 
margin crossing each other so that there is no chance of 
escape for the luckless insect, which is retained until dead, 
macerated by a fluid secreted by the leaf, and the fluid 
absorbed by the plant. 

It can hardly be doubted that the plant thus feeds 
upon the insects which it catches in this way. 



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6 7 


THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 

This favorite among the birds is found in summer in 
all parts of the United States east of the Great Plains. 
Its brilliant colors—black and yellow—are those of the 
coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore, from which fact it derives 
its name. It appears in the early spring-time, but only 
sings for about two months. Its song is of rare power 
and beauty, combining richness, pathos and variety in 
\ts notes. 

The oriole displays great skill and ingenuity in making 
its nest. This is a sort of pouch or bag, suspended from 
an overhanging branch, and made by weaving into a sort 
of cloth or close fabric, the filaments of various flax-like 
plants. 

The birds are very brave and courageous in defense 
of their young, exposing themselves to death rather than 
forsake them when in danger. If the young are taken 
prisoners, the old birds will follow, and feed them if al¬ 
lowed to do so. The oriole may be completely domesti¬ 
cated if taken from the nest when young, and it will make 
no attempt to escape, even if allowed full liberty. It feeds 
chiefly upon insects, many of which are highly injurious 
to vegetation, and is thus of immense service to the 
farmer. 


THE BEAVER. 

The beaver is a native of Europe, Asia and North 
America. Beavers were once very abundant in the United 
States, but have gradually disappeared as civilization has 
advanced. They are characterized by industry and saga¬ 
city, and by their skill in building dams and houses. 



68 


STORIES AND FABLES 


They have strong incisors, or cutting teeth, on which a 
sharp chisel edge is always preserved by the wearing 
away of the enamel on the back of the tooth, it being 
much softer there than in front. The body is about two 
feet long, and is covered with a fine soft fur, that, unfor¬ 
tunately for the beaver, is very valuable. The toes of 
the hind feet are webbed, and the tail is long, oval and 
flattened, and covered with horny scales. 

They live upon bark, leaves, roots, and berries, and 
build their houses upon the banks of rivers or the shores 
of lakes. When the river is not deep enough, they build 
a dam across it of sticks, roots, stones and mud. To ob¬ 
tain material for this purpose, they cut down trees grow¬ 
ing along the margin of the stream, and float them down 
to where they want to use them. They prefer small trees, 
but sometimes use those two or more inches in diameter, 
and they frequently build dams three hundred yards in 
length. Their houses are built of the same material, and 
are plastered on the outside with mud, which becomes 
very hard, and affords them a sufficient protection against 
their enemies. The door or opening into the house is al¬ 
ways at a considerable depth under the water. Beavers 
are easily tamed, but cannot be kept in wooden cages, 
as they gnaw their way out in a very short time. 

They are rapidly diminishing in number, on account 
of the exterminating warfare waged against them by 
hunters, who kill them for their fur. 


THE ELEPHANT. 

The elephant is the largest of existing quadrupeds. 
It is celebrated for its docility and sagacity. The elephant 
is the only living animal that has a proboscis, or trunk, 



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69 


longer than the head. This trunk is a very remarkable 
organ, and presents a wonderful combination of flexibility 
and strength. It is four or five feet long, and has in it 
neither bone nor cartilege. Two tubes or canals, pro¬ 
longations of the nostrils, extend throughout its whole 
length. It is capable of picking up a pin, or of tearing a 
tree out of the ground, roots and all. As an organ of 
touch it is exquisitely sensitive. It is used to convey 
food and drink into the mouth, but is used very rarely as 
a weapon of defense. 

The tusks, which are prolongations of the canine 
teeth, sometimes measure nine feet in length, and weigh 
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds. They 
are used as weapons of offense and defense. There are 
two distinct species, the Indian and the African. Of 
these, the former is the smaller, and has small ears and a 
concave forehead; the latter, large ears and a convex 
forehead. A large elephant weighs about seven thousand 
pounds. The skin is hard and thick, and has upon it 
only a few scattering hairs. 

Elephants are found in all the southern countries of 
both Asia and Africa. They live in herds, sometimes 
one thousand or more in a herd, in forests or jungles. 
They are killed in Africa for their tusks, which are very 
valuable, and for their flesh, which is used for food. In 
Asia they are caught and tamed. 


THE ELK. 

The elk belongs to the deer family, and is a native of 
the northern parts of Europe and Asia. When fully 
grown, it is about six feet high, and weighs twelve hun- 



7 o 


STORIES AND FABLES 


dred pounds. It has a short, thick, compact body, long, 
stilt-like legs, a large, narrow head, about two feet long, 
and a short, thick neck. The antlers are flattened, dis¬ 
playing a broad blade with numerous snags on each horn. 
Its color is brownish black; it runs with great speed, and 
lives in marshy meadows and swampy forests, feeding 
upon lichens, leaves and branches of trees. Its flesh is 
used as food. 

The American elk, commonly called the moose, very 
closely resembles its European cousin. It is hunted for 
its skin and flesh, when the deep snows of winter retard 
its swift flight. Though almost extinct, it is found occa¬ 
sionally in Maine, northern New York, and northwest¬ 
ward. 


THE ERMINE. 

The ermine is a carnivorous animal, nearly allied to 
the weasel, which it somewhat resembles. It is a native 
of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and, perhaps, 
America. It lives upon mice, poultry, eggs, and young 
rabbits. Its body is about ten inches long; its color is 
a pale reddish brown on the upper part of the body, and 
white underneath. In winter the whole body is covered 
with white fur, slightly tinged with yellow, while the tip 
of the tail is always black. 

The ermine of Siberia, Norway, and other cold coun¬ 
tries, is one of the most valuable of furs. It is used for 
ladies’ apparel and for the robes of kings, nobles and 
judges. Most of the so-called ermine fur of commerce is 
white rabbit fur, with spots of black inserted. 



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THE GIRAFFE. 

The giraffe is a native of Africa, being found from the 
Cape of Good Hope almost to Egypt. It is sometimes 
called camelopard, from the fancied combination of the 
characteristics of the camel with those of the leopard. 

It has extremely long legs, especially in front, thus 
giving a steep slope to the back. The body is short, the 
neck very long, the tongue extensile, bony, and covered 
with skin. 

The giraffe feeds principally upon the leaves of trees, 
which its great height—sometimes eighteen feet—enables 
it to reach with ease. 

It is gentle and inoffensive, but when it feels so dis¬ 
posed will kick dangerously. It runs awkwardly, and 
not at all swiftly. It is hunted for its skin, which makes 
good leather, and its flesh, which is used for food. 


GIBRALTAR. 

The Rock of Gibraltar, the southermost promontory 
of Spain, is an insulated rock, connected with the main 
land only by a long, narrow, sandy strip of land. It, 
with its neighbor on the African shore, formed the famous 
Pillars of Hercules of the ancients, who believed them to 
be the western boundary of the earth. 

The Rock of Gibraltar is 1,400 feet high, almost per¬ 
pendicular on the south and east, sloping and accessible 
on the north and west. It contains many caves and 
caverns, one of which, St. Michael’s Cave, is the one 
most frequently visited by strangers. Its entrance is on 
the west side of the rock, 1,100 feet above the sea; it is 



72 


STORIES AND FABLES 


200 feet long and yo feet high, and is connected by tor¬ 
tuous passages with other similar halls. 

The Rock of Gibraltar was formerly a Moorish strong¬ 
hold, but is now held by the English, who have fortified 
it until it is considered impregnable. It has been besieged 
many times, but has each time been successfully defended. 


GEYSERS. 

What is known as the “Great Geyser,” is situated 
about seventy miles from Reikjarik, near the volcano of 
Mount Hecla. On a low plateau, whose area is about 
half a square mile, a great many hot springs gush forth, 
as if there was a powerful subterranean river boiling un¬ 
derneath the surface. One of these—the Great Geyser— 
consists of a mound fifteen feet high, whose top contains 
a basin four feet deep and seventy-two feet in diameter. 
This basin is generally filled with boiling water, which, 
when the spring is quiet, makes its way through an aper¬ 
ture in the side of the basin, and runs off the plateau. 
Every four or five hours a subterranean noise is heard, 
like the rumble of a train of artillery over a pavement. 
The noise increases rapidly, the water in the basin boils 
violently, and jets of the boiling water are thrown several 
feet above the basin. About every thirty hours these 
eruptions become very violent. The rumbling becomes 
terrific thundering, the jets of water are thrown one hun¬ 
dred feet high, and so much vapor condenses that clouds 
are formed that shut in the horizon on all sides. All the 
water is thrown out of the basin, and it remains empty 
for several hours. 

Some of the geysers of the Yellowstone Park throw 
jets of boiling water to the height of two hundred feet. 



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73 


SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 

Sir Walter Raleigh was an English nobleman. He 
was deeply interested in American discoveries and ex¬ 
plorations, and determined to found a colony, thinking 
it a better way of developing the resources of the New 
World than the plan then generally followed of sending 
out random expeditions in search of gold. His first at¬ 
tempt was made on Roanoke Island; the second, on 
Cheasepeake Bay. Both failed, and Raleigh, having 
spent a large amount of money, became discouraged, and 
transferred his patent to other parties. Raleigh was not 
only a man of dauntless courage, but was also handsome, 
talented, highly educated and accomplished. 

Meeting Queen Elizabeth one day while she was 
walking, he spread his cloak over a muddy place in the 
path, that she might walk upon it instead of soiling her 
shoes. This act of gallantry, together with his handsome 
face and pleasing manner, won for him the Queen’s favor. 
He was invited to her court, und remained a favorite 
during her lifetime. The colonists of Roanoke Island 
lived long enough in the new world to learn the use of 
tobacco and the potato, and on their return they intro¬ 
duced them into England. Several amusing stories are 
told of the first use of tobacco. Raleigh’s servant entered 
his room one morning and found him smoking. He stood 
for a moment, looking in surprise at the cloud of smoke 
issuing from his master’s mouth, then, after dashing in his 
face the cup of ale he carried in his hand, he turned and 
ran frantically downstairs, calling for aid to put out the 
fire before he should be burned to ashes. 

Conversing one day with the Queen upon the singular 
properties of tobacco, he assured her that he could tell 


74 


STORIES AND FABLES 


the exact weight of smoke in any given amount con* 
sumed. The incredulous Queen dared him to a wager. 
He accepted it, carefully weighed his tobacco, smoked it, 
and then weighed the ashes. Stating the difference as 
the weight of the smoke, he claimed his wager. As she 
paid it, the Queen remarked that she had often heard of 
turning gold into smoke, but this was the first time she 
had known of anyone’s turning smoke into gold. 

Raleigh was accused by James I. of treason, was im¬ 
prisoned for’many years, and, at the age of sixty-five, 
executed. On the scaffold he asked for the axe, and 
feeling the edge, observed with a smile, “This is a sharp 
medicine, but a sound cure for all diseases.’’ He then 
laid his head upon the block, and calmly awaited the 
fatal stroke. 


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1435. He 
was a sailor from early childhood, and from the study of 
maps and charts of other navigators, and his own observa¬ 
tions, he became convinced that the earth was round, 
instead of flat, as was generally supposed, and that by 
sailing west a shorter route to India might be discovered. 
His opinions were received with derision by the people, 
and he was thought to be insane. He was too poor to 
fit out a squadron himself for the voyage of discovery, 
and for a long time he could not inspire any of the reign¬ 
ing monarchs with sufficient faith or belief in his new 
ideas to induce them to help him in his schemes. At 
last, Isabella of Spain furnished the desired aid, and a 
squadron of three small vessels was fitted out. Sailors 
were found with difficulty. They feared they would be 



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75 


lost in the vast ocean they were about to be the first to 
explore. “Even if the world is round,” said they, “if we 
sail down over the side, how shall we ever be able to 
come back?” They were rebellious almost to the point 
of mutiny during the entire voyage. 

Land was discovered Oct. 12, 1492. Columbus took 
formal possession of it in the name of the King and 
Queen of Spain. He thought it to be an island lying 
near to the coast of India. He afterward made three 
other voyages, and discovered the continent of South 
America, but still thought it a part of Asia, and died 
ignorant of the grandeur of the discovery he had made. 

After his first discovery he was received in Spain 
with every possible expression of joy in his great achieve¬ 
ment, but his triumph was brief. The King and Queen 
believed the stories evil men told against him, sent out 
another governor to take his position, and had him 
brought home in chains. The whole nation was shocked 
at this indignity, and Ferdinand and Isabella were made 
to see in part the wrong they had done him. But, though 
they made many promises, they never restored him to 
his rights, and after a time they totally neglected him. 

He died a grieved and disappointed old man, asking 
that his chains might be buried with him, as a memorial 
of Spanish ingratitude. 

His body was first buried at Valladolid, and afterward 
taken to Sevilla. In 1536 the remains were taken to 
St. Domingo, Hayti. _ 

DANIEL WEBSTER. 

Webster was one of the greatest statesmen and orators 
of America. His educational advantages in his early 
youth were limited. He was sent, when about fourteen 



76 


STORIES AND FABLES 


years of age, to an academy, and though so bashful that 
after committing and rehearsing his piece time after time 
in his own room, he could not muster courage to rise 
from his seat and speak it before the school, he gave 
promise of so much ability that his father decided to send 
him to college. This was the height of his ambition, 
though he scarcely dared dream of realizing it. His father 
was a poor man with a large family to support, but he 
saw in his boy the talent that ought to be developed, so 
he willingiy incurred the additional expense. And well 
was he repaid. Webster finished his collegiate course, 
entered his profession, and at once rose to eminence, 
placing himself first in the ranks of American orators. 


LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 

1 The breaking waves dashed high 
On a stern and rock-bound coast, 

And the woods against a stormy sky 
Their giant branches tossed. 

2 And the heavy night hung dark 
The hills and waters o’er, 

When a band of exiles moored their bark 
On the wild New England shore. 

3 Not as the conqueror comes, 

They, the true-hearted, came; 

Not with the roll of stirring drums, 

And the trumpet that sings of fame. 

4 Not as the flying come, 

In silence and in fear; 

They shook the depths of the desert’s gloom 
With their hymns of lofty cheer. 



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5 Amidst the storm they sang, 

And the stars heard and the sea, 

And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang 
To the anthem of the free. 

6 The ocean eagle soared 

From his nest by the white wave’s foam, 

And the rocking pines of the forest waved: 
This was their welcome home. 

7 There were men with hoary hair 
Amidst that pilgrim band— 

Why had they come to wither there, 

Away from their childhood’s land? 

8 There was woman’s fearless eye, 

Lit by her deep love’s truth; 

There was manhood’s brow, serenely high, 
And the firy heart of youth. 

9 What sought they thus afar? 

Bright jewels of the mine? 

The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?— 

They sought a faith’s pure shrine! 

10 Ay, call it holy ground, 

The soil where first they trod— 

They have left unstained what there they found, 
Freedom to worship God. 


THE SPIDER AND THE FLY. 

I “Will you walk into my parlor?” said 

the Spider to the Fly, 

“’Tis the prettiest little parlor that 
ever you did spy. 



STORIES AND FABLES 


The way into my parlor is up a 
winding stair, 

And I have many curious things 
to show when you are there. ” 

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly,” to ask 
me is in vain, 

For who goes up your winding stair 
can ne’er come down again.” 

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, 
with soaring up so high; 

Will you rest upon my little bed?” 
said the Spider to the Fly. 

“There are pretty curtains drawn around, 
the sheets are fine and thin, 

And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll 
snugly tuck you in!” 

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly,” for I’ve 
often heard it said, 

They never, never wake again, who sleep 
upon your bed!” 

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly: 

“Dear friend, what can I do 

To prove the warm affection I’ve always 
felt for you? 

I have within my pantry a store 
of all that’s nice. 

I’m sure you’re welcome— 

will you please to take a slice?” 

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind 
sir, that cannot be. 

I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and 
I do not wish to see!” 


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“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, 
“You’re witty and you’re wise. 

How handsome are your gauzy wings! 
how brilliant are your eyes! 

I have a looking-glass upon my 
parlor shelf. 

If you’ll step in one moment, dear, 
you shall behold yourself. ” 

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, 

“for what you’re pleased to say, 

And, bidding you good morning now, 
I’ll call another day.” 

The Spider turned him round about, 
and went into his den, 

For well he knew the silly Fly would 
soon come back again. 

So he wove a subtle web in a 
little corner sly, 

And set his table ready to dine 
upon the Fly. 

Then came out to his door again, 
and merrily did sing: 

“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with 
the pearl and silver wing; 

Your robes are green and purple, 
there’s a crest upon your head; 

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, 
but mine are dull as lead.” 

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly 
little Fly, 

Hearing his wily, flattering words, 
came slowly flitting by. 


So 


STORIES AND FABLES 


With buzzing wings she hung aloft, 
then near and nearer drew, 
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes 
and green and purple hue, 
Thinking only of her crested head. 

Poor foolish thing! At last 
Up! jumped the cunning Spider, and 
fiercely held her fast. 

7 He dragged her up his winding stair 

into his dismal den, 

Within his little parlor—but she 
ne’er came out again! 

And now, dear little children, who 
may this story read, 

To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray 
you, ne’er give heed. 

Unto an evil counselor close heart 
and ear and eye, 

And take a lesson from this tale 
of the Spider and the Fly. 


THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 

Under a spreading chestnut tree 
The village smithy stands', 

The smith, a mighty man is he, 

With large and sinewy hands; 
And the muscles of his brawny arms 
Are strong as iron bands. 



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His hair is crisp and black and long, 

His face is like the tan, 

His brow is wet with honest sweat, 

He earns whate’er he can, 

And looks the whole world in the face, 
For he owes not any man. 

Week in, week out, from morn till night, 
You can hear his bellows blow. 

You can hear him sling his heavy sledge, 
With measured beat and slow, 

Like a sexton ringing the village bell 
When the evening sun is low. 

And children, coming home from school, 
Look in at the open door. 

They love to look at the flaming forge, 
And hear the bellows roar, 

And catch the burning sparks that fly 
Like chaff from the threshing floor. 

He goes on Sunday to the church, 

And sits among his boys. 

He hears the parson pray and preach, 
He hears his daughter’s voice 

Singing in the village choir, 

And it makes his heart rejoice. 

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice 
Singing in Paradise! 

He needs must think of her once more, 
How in the grave she lies. 

And, with his hard rough hand, he wipes 
A tear out of his eyes. 


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82 STORIES AND FABLES 

7 Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing, 

Onward through life he goes. 

Each morning sees some task begun, 
Each evening sees it close. 
Something attempted, something done, 
Has earned a night’s repose. 

8 Thanks, thanks thee, my worthy friend, 

For the lesson thou has taught! 
Thus, at the flaming forge of life, 

Our fortunes must be wrought. 

Thus, on its sounding anvil, shaped 
Each burning deed and thought! 


BARBARA FRIETCHIE. 

1 Up from the meadows rich with corn, 
Clear in the cool September morn, 

2 The clustered spires of Frederick stand, 
Green-walled, by the hills of Maryland. 

3 Round about them orchards sweep 
Apple and peach-tree fruited deep, 

4 Fair as a garden of the Lord 

To the eyes of the famished rebel horde, 

5 On that pleasant morn of the early fall, 
When Lee marched over the mountain wall, 

6 Over the mountains winding down, 

Horse and foot into Frederick Town. 

7 Forty flags with their silver stars, 

Forty flags with their crimson bars, 



8 

9 

io 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

1 7 

18 

19 

20 

21 


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Flapped in the morning wind; the sun 
Of noon looked down, and saw not one. 

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, 
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten. 

Bravest of all in Frederick Town, 

She took up the flag the men hauled down. 

In her attic window the staff she set, 

To show that one heart was loyal yet. 

Up the street came the rebel tread, 
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead. 

Under his slouched hat, left and right, 

He glanced; the old flag met his sight. 

“Halt!” The dust-brown ranks stood fast. 
“Fire!” Out blazed the rifle blast. 

It shivered the window, pane and sash; 

It rent the banner, with seam and gash. 

Quick, as it fell from the broken staff, 
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf. 

She leaned far out on the window-sill, 
And shook it forth with a royal will. 

“Shoot, if you must, this gray old head, 
But spare your country’s flag,” she said. 

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, 
Over the face of the leader came. 

The nobler nature within him stirred 
To life at that woman’s deed and word. 

“Who touches a hair of yon gray head 
Dies like a dog! March on!” he said. 


84 STORIES AND FABLES 

22 All day long through Frederick street 
Sounded the tread of marching feet. 

23 All day long that free flag tossed 
Over the heads of the rebel host. 

24 Ever its torn folds rose and fell 

On the loyal winds that loved it well. 

25 And through the hill-gaps sunset light 
Shone over it with a warm good night. 

26 Barbara Frietchie’s work is o’er, 

And the rebel rides on his raids no more. 

27 Honor to her! and let a tear 

Fall for her sake on Stonewall’s bier. 

28 Over Barbara Frietchie’s grave 
Flag of freedom and Union wave! 

29 Peace and order and beauty draw 
Round thy symbol of light and law. 

30 And ever the stars above look down 
On thy stars below in Frederick Town! 


THE MARINER’S DREAM. 

1 In slumbers of midnight the sailor-boy lay, 

His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind, 
But, watchworn and weary, his cares flew away, 
And visions of happiness danced o’er his mind. 

2 He dreamed of his home, of his dear native bowers, 
And pleasures that waited on life’s merry morn, 

• While Memory stood sidewise, half-covered with 
flowers, 



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And restored every rose, but secreted its thorn. 

3 Then Fancy her magical pinions spread wide, 

And bade the young dreamer in ecstacy rise: 

How far, far behind him the green waters glide, 

And the cot of his forefather’s blesses his eyes. 

4 The jessamine clambers in flowers o’er the thatch, 
And the swallow chirps sweet from her nest in the wall. 
All trembling with transport, he raises the latch, 

And the voices of loved ones reply to his call. 

5 A father bends o’er him with looks of delight, 

His cheek is impearled with a mother’s warm tear, 
And the lips of the boy in a love-kiss unite 

With the lips of the maid whom his bosom holds dear. 

6 The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast. 

Joy quickens his pulses—all hardships seem o’er, 

And a murmur of happiness steals through his rest: 
“Oh, God! that hast blessed me. I ask for no more.” 

7 Ah, what is that flame which now burst on his eye? 
Ah, what is that sound which now ’larums his ear? 
’Tis the lightning’s red glare, painting hell on the sky! 
’Tis the crashing of thunders, the groan of the sphere! 

8 He springs from his hammock, he flies to the deck! 
Amazement confronts him with images dire. 

Wild winds and mad waves drive the vessel a wreck— 
The masts fly in splinters—the shrouds are on fire! 

9 Like mountains the billows tremendously swell. 

In vain the lost wretch calls on mercy to save. 
Unseen hands of spirits are ringing his knell, 

And the death-angel flaps his broad wings o’er the wave! 


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86 STORIES AND FABLES 

io O sailor-boy, woe to thy dream of delight! 

In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss. 
Where now is the picture that Fancy touched bright— 
Thy parents’ fond pressure and Love’s honeyed kiss? 


THE SONG OF STEAM. 

1 Harness me down with your iron bands, 

Be sure of your curb and rein, 

For I scorn the power of your puny hands, 

As the tempest scorns a chain! 

How I laughed as I lay concealed from sight 
For many a countless hour, 

At the childish boast of human might, 

And the pride of human power! 

2 When I saw an army upon the land, 

A navy upon the seas, 

Creeping along, a snail-like band, 

Or waiting the wayward breeze. 

When I marked the peasant fairly reel 
With the toil which he faintly bore, 

As he feebly turned the tardy wheel, 

Or tugged at the weary oar. 

3 When I measured the panting courser’s speed, 

The flight of the courier-dove, 

As they bore the law a king decreed, 

Or the lines of impatient love, 

I could not but think how the world would feel 
As these were outstripped afar, 

When I should be bound to the rushing keel, 
Or chained to the flying car! 



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Ha, ha, ha! they found me at last. 

They invited me forth at length, 

And I rushed to my throne with a thunderblast, 
And laughed in my iron strength! 

Oh, then ye saw a wondrous change 
On the earth and ocean wide, 

Where now my fiery armies range, 

Nor wait for wind or tide. 

Hurrah, hurrah! the waters o’er, 

The mountain’s steep decline, 

Time, space, have yielded to my power, 

The world—the world is mine! 

The rivers the sun hath earliest blest, 

Or those where his beams decline, 

The giant streams of the queenly West, 

And the Orient floods divine. 

The ocean pales where’er I sweep, 

To hear my strength rejoice! 

And the monsters of the briny deep 
Cower, trembling, at my voice. 

I carry the wealth of the lord of earth, 

The thoughts of his God-like mind. 

The wind lags after my flying forth, 

The lightning is left behind. 

In the darksome depths of the fathomless mine 
My tireless arm doth play, 

Where the rocks never saw the sun’s decline, 
Or the dawn of the glorious day. 

I bring earth’s glittering jewels up 
From the hidden cave below, 

And I make the fountain’s granite cup 
With a crystal gush o’erflow. 


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88 STORIES AND FABLES 

8 I blow the bellows, I forge the steel, 

In all the shops of trade. 

I hammer the ore and turn the wheel, 

Where my arms of strength are made. 

I manage the furnace, the mill, the mint; 

I carry, I spin, I weave; 

And all my doings I put into print 
On every Saturday eve. 

9 I’ve no muscles to weary, no flesh to decay, 

No bones to be laid on the “shelf;” 
And soon I intend you may “go and play,” 
While I manage this world myself. 

But harness me down with your iron bands 
Be sure of your curb and rein; 

For I scorn the strength of your puny hands, 
As the tempest scorns a chain. 


ALEXANDER SELKIRK. 

1 I am monarch of all I survey, 

My right there is none to dispute. 
From the center all round to the sea, 

I am lord of the fowl and the brute. 

O Solitude! when are the charms 
That sages have seen in thy face? 
Better dwell in the midst of alarms 
Than reign in this horrible place. 

2 I am out of humanity’s reach, 

I must finish my journey alone, 

Never hear the sweet music of speech, 
I start at the sound of my own! 



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The beasts that roam over the plain 
My form with indifference see, 

They are so unacquainted with man, 
Their tameness is shocking to me. 
Society, friendship, and love, 

Divinely bestowed upon man, 

Oh, had I the wings of the dove. 

How soon would I taste you again! 

My sorrows I then might assuage 
In the ways of religion and truth, 

Might learn from the wisdom of age, 
And be cheered by the sallies of youth. 

Religion ! what treasure untold 
Resides in that heavenly w r ord, 

More precious than silver and gold, 

Or all that this earth can afford! 

But the sound of the church-going bell 
These valleys and rocks never heard— 
Never sighed at the sound of a knell, 

Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared. 

Ye winds, that have made me your sport, 
Convey to this desolate shore 
Some cordial, endearing report 
Of a land I shall visit no more. 

My friends—do they now and then send 
A wish or a thought after me? 

Oh, tell me I yet have a friend, 

Though a friend I am never to seel 

How fleet is a glance of the mind! 
Compared with the speed of its flight, 
The tempest itself logs behind, 

And the swift-winged arrows of light! 


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90 STORIES AND FABLES 

When I think of my own native land, 
In a moment I seem to be there. 

But, alas! recollection at hand 
Soon hurries me back to despair! 

7 But the sea-fowl has gone to her nest, 

The beast is laid down in his lair. 
Even here is a season of rest, 

And I to my cabin repair. 

There’s mercy in every place. 

And mercy—-encouraging thought!— 
Gives even affliction a grace, 

And reconciles man to his lot. 


PAUL REVERE’S RIDE. 

1 Listen, my children, and you shall hear 
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, 

On the eighteenth of April in seventy-five. 

Hardly a man is now alive 

Who remembers that famous day and year. 

2 He said to his friend, “If the British march 
By land or sea from the town to-night, 
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch 

Of the north church tower as a signal light. 
One if by land, and two if by sea. 

And I on the opposite shore will be, 

Ready to ride and spread the alarm 
Through every Middlesex village and farm, 
For the country-folk to be up and to arm. 



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Then he said good-night, and with muffled oar 
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore, 

Just as the moon rose over the bay, 

Where, swinging wide at her moorings, lay 
The Somerset, British man-of-war, 

A phantom ship, with each mast and spar 
Across the moon like a prison-bar, 

And a huge black hulk, that was magnified 
By its own reflection in the tide. 

Meanwhile his friend, through alley and street, 
Wanters and watches with eager ears, 

Till in the silence around him he hears 
The muster of men at the barrack-door, 

The sound of arms and the tramp of feet, 
And the measured tread of the grenadiers 
Marching down to their boats on the shore. 

Then he climbed to the tower of the church, 
Up the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread, 

To the belfry-chamber overhead, 

And startled the pigeons from their perch 
On the somber rafters, that round him made 
Masses and moving shapes of shade— 

Up the light ladder, slender and tall, 

To the highest window in the wall, 

Where he paused to listen and look down 
A moment on the roofs of the quiet town, 
And the moonlight, flowing over all. 

Beneath, in the church-yard, lay the dead 
In their night-encampment on the hill, 
Wrapped in silence so deep and still 
That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread, 


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92 STORIES AND FABLES 

The watchful night-wind as it went 
Creeping along from tent to tent, 

And seeming to whisper, “All is well!” 

A moment only he feels the spell 
Of the place and the hour, a secret dread 
Of the lonely belfry and the dead. 

For suddenly all his thoughts are bent 
On a shadowy something far away, 

Where the river widens to meet the bay, 

A line of black that bends and floats 
On the rising tide like a bridge of boats. 

7 Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride, 

Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride, 

On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere. 

Now he patted his horse’s side, 

Now gazed on the landscape far and near, 

Then impetuous stamped the earth, 

And turned and tightened his saddle-girth. 

But mostly he watched with eager search 
The belfry-tower of the old North Church, 

As it rose above the graves on the hill, 

Lonely and spectral, and somber and still. 

And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height, 

A glimmer and then a gleam of light! 

He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns, 

But lingers and gazes till, full on his sight, 

A second lamp in the belfry burns. 

A hurry of hoofs in the village street, 

A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, 

And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark 
Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and fleet, 


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That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the 
The fate of a nation was riding that night, [light, 
And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight, 
Kindled the land into flame with its heat. 

It was twelve by the village clock 

When he crossed the river into Medford town. 

He heard the crowing of the cock, 

And the barking of the farmer’s dog, 

And felt the damp of the river-fog 
That rises when the sun goes down. 

It was one by the village clock 
When he rode into Lexington. 

He saw the gilded weather-cock 
Swim in the moonlight as he passed, 

And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare 
Gazed at him with a spectral glare, 

As if they already stood aghast 

At the bloody work they would look upon. 

It was two by the village clock 

When he came to the bridge in Concord town. 

He heard the bleating of the flock, 

And the twitter of birds among the trees, 

And felt the breath of the morning breeze 
Blowing over the meadows brown. 

And one was safe and asleep in his bed 
Who at the bridge would be first to fall, 

Who that day would be lying dead, 

Pierced by a British musket-ball. 

You know the rest. In the books you have read 
How the British regulars fired and fled— 

How the farmers gave them ball for ball 
From behind each fence and farm-yard wall, 


94 


STORIES AND FABLES 


Chasing the red-coats down the lane, 

Then crossing the fields, to emerge again 
Under the trees at the turn of the road, 

And only pausing to fire and load. 

12 So through the night rode Paul Revere, 

And so through the night went his cry of alarm, 
To every Middlesex village and farm— 

A cry of defiance, and not of fear— 

A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, 
And a word that shall echo forevermore! 

For, borne on the night-wind of the past, 
Through all our history, to the last, 

In the hour of darkness, and peril, and need, 
The people will waken, and listen to hear 
The hurrying hoof-beat of that steed, 

And the midnight message of Paul Revere. 


THE DAY IS DONE. 

1 The day is done, and the darkness 
Falls from the wings of night, 

As a feather is wafted downward 
From an eagle in his flight. 

2 I see the lights of the village 
Gleam through the rain and the mist, 
And a feeling of sadness comes o’er me 
That my soul cannot resist. 

A feeling of sadness and longing 
That is not akin to pain, 

And resembles sorrow only 
As the mist resembles the rain. 


3 



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Come, read to me some poem, 

Some simple and heartfelt lay, 

That shall soothe this restless feeling, 
And banish the thoughts of day. 

Not from the grand old masters, 

Not from the bards sublime, 

Whose distant footsteps echo 
Through the corridors of Time. 

For, like strains of martial music, 

Their mighty thoughts suggest 
Life’s endless toil and endeavor, 

And tonight I long for rest. 

Read from some humbler poet, 

Whose songs gushed from his heart, 

As showers from the clouds of summer, 
Or tears from the eyelids start. 

Who, through long days of labor, 

And nights devoid of ease, 

Still heard in his soul the music 
Of wonderful melodies. 

Such songs have power to quiet 
The restless pulse of care, 

And come like the benediction 
That follows after prayer. 

Then read from the treasured volume 
The poem of thy choice, 

And lend to the rhyme of the poet 
The beauty of thy voice. 

And the night shall be filled with music, 
And the cares that invest the day 
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, 
And as silently steal away. 


9 6 


STORIES AND FABLES 


PICTURES OF MEMORY. 

1 Among the beautiful pictures 
That hang on Memory’s wall 
Is one of a dim old forest, 

That seemeth best of all. 

Not for its gnarled oaks olden, 

Dark with the mistletoe; 

Not for the violets golden 
That sprinkle the vale below. 

Not for the milk-white lilies 
That lean from the fragrant ledge, 
Coquetting all day with the sunbeams, 
And stealing their golden edge. 

Not for the vines on the upland, 

Where the bright red berries rest; 

Nor the pinks, nor the pale-sweet cowslip, 
It seemeth to me the best. 

2 I once had a little brother, 

With eyes that were dark and deep— 

In the lap of that old dim forest 
He lieth in peace asleep. 

Light as the down of the thistle, 

Free as the winds that blow, 

We roved there the beautiful summers, 
The summers of long ago. 

But his feet on the hills grew weary, 

And, one of the autumn eves, 

I made for my little brother 
A bed of the yellow leaves. 

Sweetly his pale arms folded 
My neck in a sweet embrace, 


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As the light of immortal beauty 
Silently covered his face. 

And when the arrows of sunset 
Lodged in the tree-tops bright 
He fell, in his saint-like beauty, 
Asleep by the gates of light. 
Therefore, of all the pictures 
That hang on Memory’s wall, 
The one of the dim old forest 
Seemeth the best of all. 


THE ISLE OF LONG AGO. 

1 O, a wonderful stream is the river Time, 

As it runs through the realm of tears, 

With a faultless rythm and a musical rhyme, 

And a boundless sweep and a surge sublime, 

As it blends with the Ocean of Years. 

2 How the winters are drifting, like flakes of snow, 
And the summers like buds between, 

And the year in the sheaf, so they come and they go, 
On the river’s breast, with its ebb and flow, 

As it glides in the shadow and sheen. 

3 There’s a magical isle up the river Time, 

Where the softest of airs are playing. 

There’s a cloudless sky and a tropical clime, 

And a song as sweet as a vesper chime, 

And the Junes with the roses are straying. 



9 8 


STORIES AND FABLES. 


4 And the name of that Isle is the Long Ago, 

And we bury our treasures there. 

There are brows of beauty and bosoms of snow. 
There are heaps of dust—but we loved them so! 
There are trinkets and tresses of hair. 

5 There are fragments of songs that nobody sings, 
And a part of an infant’s prayer. 

There’s a lute unswept, and a harp without strings, 
There are broken vows and pieces of rings, 

And the garments that she used to wear. 

6 There are hands that are waved when the fairy shore 
By the mirage is lifted in air, 

And we sometimes hear through the turbulent roar 
Sweet voices we heard in the days gone before, 
When the wind down the river is fair. 

7 O, remembered for aye, be the blessed Isle, 

All the days of our life until night. 

When the evening comes with its beautiful smile, 
And our eyes are closing to slumber awhile, 

May that “Greenwood” of soul be in sight! 





















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